Gun license suspended for Wayne Smith, Yamba man who shot son

On Thursday, police found the bodies of Wayne Smith, 58, and his teenage son Noah inside Yamba’s home in Northern Rivers, New South Wales. Police believe Smith died of suicide after murdering his son.

on wednesday, Daily Telegraph Smith’s license was suspended in August 2021, and three firearms were seized by police. However, his license was reinstated after passing an independent medical and risk assessment in December.

read next

New South Wales Police Minister Yasmine Khatley confirmed on 2GB that Mr Smith’s license had been suspended and reinstated.

Despite criticism from 2GB host Ben Fordham, Katley defended the gun registration process as “very robust” and “rigorous”.

She said it would now be up to the crown inquest to “shed light and recommend ways to improve the licensing process.”

“It’s hard to fathom what his mental state was like between December and now,” Kathry said of Smith.

“We have a very robust process when it comes to registering firearms and obtaining a firearms license, and that process has been followed.”

The police minister was outraged over why Smith’s firearms license was reinstated, but Cutley assured Fordham that the government was willing to improve the process.

“In all fairness, people recover from mental health episodes, which is why this process offers the opportunity to be evaluated by independent medical practitioners,” she said.

Kathry admitted that there is “room for improvement”.

“This process has been devastating and has resulted in a very tragic death of a beautiful boy,” she said.

“But again, the firearm registration and licensing process is very strict, so it’s up to us to act on the coroner’s orders.

“If these recommendations lead to improvements, especially with respect to mental health, we will definitely do so.”

read next