A firearms licence was reinstated to a man just months before he shot dead his teenage son and himself, in another horrific domestic violence incident that has left a small community in New South Wales reeling.
The bodies of 58-year-old Wayne Smith and 15-year-old Noah were found at their home in Yamba in the northern rivers on Thursday, in an apparent murder-suicide.
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, is hoping a coronial investigation will shed light on what led to the “terrible set of circumstances” and has promised to act on any recommendations.
Smith’s gun licence was suspended in August 2021 over mental health concerns but restored the following year.
Catley said it was difficult to speculate about Smith’s mental health between when the licence was reinstated and when the shootings took place.
An independent medical assessment was undertaken, as required by the NSW Firearms Registry, as well as a risk assessment in order for the licence to be reinstated in December.
“They determined that he was capable of holding a licence again,” Catley told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.
Although Catley maintained there was a “very robust process” around acquiring a firearms licence in NSW, she conceded “there is room for improvement”.
“If the coronial investigation can … recommend ways to improve the licence process we will make sure that that happens swiftly,” she said.
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The incident has shaken the small fishing town.
North Coast district commander Shane Cribb described the events as an “absolutely tragic situation” when speaking to reporters on Friday.
“The main thing is to wrap as much support around everyone as we can,” Cribb said.
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