A Queensland veteran who allegedly threatened mass shootings at Mardi Gras and Centrelink has had his gun licence reinstated after a tribunal found he posed no "real risk" to public safety.
Police cancelled Jason Cade's weapons licence and confiscated two firearms in 2020, after receiving reports that he allegedly made multiple threats to commit the shootings at businesses and Mardi Gras events.
The allegations were vehemently denied by Mr Cade, who successfully appealed the revocation of his firearms licence in February at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
QCAT Member James Allen found there was no "real prospect" of Mr Cade misusing his weapons, nor that his ownership of firearms posed a "real risk" to "public safety".
Several claims of threats
Mr Cade came to the attention of police after concerns were raised about his mental health, and police conducted a welfare check in December 2020.
Tribunal documents state a security guard from the Gold Coast University Hospital — who claimed to be a friend of Mr Cade's and worked with him in the defence forces — told police that while he was working, he was approached by Mr Cade who threatened to shoot him and his family.
He alleged Mr Cade had suspected he had "narked" on him to the authorities, and was responsible for police executing a warrant at his house in November 2019, after receiving information he possessed illegal firearms.
Police confirmed there was no evidence of unlawful firearms uncovered in that raid.
The security guard told police Mr Cade made threats to attend AMP and commit a mass shooting because they would not release his superannuation early, the tribunal heard.
He alleged Mr Cade also warned he would conduct a mass shooting at Centrelink.
He said his friend suffered from PTSD, had worked in artillery and was knowledgeable about explosives and firearms.
The tribunal heard Mr Cade was also accused of having a strong hatred for police and that he would kill any police officer who attempted to take his firearms.
Another anonymous informant told police that Mr Cade had allegedly made threats of a mass shooting at Mardi Gras because he hated gay people.
The tribunal heard police then attended Mr Cade's home to conduct a welfare check in 2020 after receiving the new information.
Police cancelled Mr Cade's weapons licence in December 2020 after the officer who conducted the welfare check reported he appeared to have poor mental health and found it difficult to reason with him.
Mr Cade 'does not condone that type of violence', tribunal hears
The tribunal heard that Mr Cade said the claims about the threats were baseless and "he does not condone that type of violence, nor does he wish to harm anybody".
Mr Cade said Centrelink had been helpful to him, that he did not threaten to kill anyone at Mardi Gras, and that he had several openly gay friends.
He claimed he had expressed some frustration with AMP but did not threaten to shoot any employee and that his comment "to kill all the little bastards" was a figure of speech.
Mr Cade told the tribunal while he distrusted police, it was "corrupt police" that he specifically disliked.
The tribunal heard he also had his firearms licence suspended in 2017, with weapons seized.
A funeral home reported to police that Mr Cade had disclosed he was threatening "suicide by police", following the death of his mother.
Police then attended his home, seized his weapons and transported him to the hospital.
Night vision goggles, which Mr Cade said were purchased at Toys R Us, were located at his house, along with camouflage clothing and several katana or samurai-style swords.
Mr Cade's weapons licence was later reinstated after he provided medical clearance.
'No risk to public safety'
A submission to the tribunal by the QPS Weapons Licensing Branch said the events since 2017 showed "a lack of impulse control and self-awareness".
It said multiple "credible" sources expressed concerns and he had been non-compliant with police on three previous occasions.
The tribunal heard Mr Cade provided a letter from a general practitioner, which said he did not have PTSD, but a form of anxiety.
A letter from his treating psychiatrist, dated January 5, 2021, claimed he was struggling with severe generalised anxiety and panic attacks, since his mother died after an extended illness.
Mr Cade said his psychiatrist did not believe he was a homicide risk via mass shooting.
Mr Allen said while Mr Cade "may make some threats in regard to people he is having major issues with, he has shown that he always ensures that the weapons he holds under his licence do not constitute a threat to public safety".
"I do not therefore consider that Mr Cade has a real prospect of misusing his weapons nor that his right to possess weapons is a real risk to public and individual safety," Mr Allen concluded.
