Queensland Police Launch Counter-Terrorism Drills

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is committed to ensuring officers are highly trained and fully prepared to respond effectively to any threat or critical incident, by conducting multiple counter-terrorism-based training exercises across the state.

The deadly shooting incident at Bondi Beach in 2025 and the stabbing attack at Bondi Junction in 2024 has only reinforced the need for regular training and preparedness activities across Queensland.

While there is no current threat to Queensland and such events are rare, the preparation and practice for police, security staff and emergency responders is timely, crucial and invaluable to all.

Throughout this year, police have participated in two separate multifaceted, active armed offender exercises, Sundown and Banshee, ensuring officers and relevant partner agencies are well equipped with knowledge, training and resources when engaging high-risk incidents.

Brisbane based Exercise Sundown, was comprised of two main components - a frontline response exercise where general duties police were called to respond to active armed offenders at Suncorp Stadium, and a desktop exercise about resourcing allocation in response to the evolving incident.

As part of the response, police were called to assist with crowd control at a sports game, threat management, and respond to live hostage situations.

Similarly, exercises were held as part of Exercise Banshee at regional retail and entertainment precincts across Queensland, exposing officers to high pressure and high stakes environments.

Officers were tasked with responding to multiple armed offenders at these locations, working together to effectively manage and contain the threat by applying their training, expertise, and teamwork.

Specialist Operations Deputy Commissioner and Chair of the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Public Information Sub Committee, Cheryl Scanlon, said this type of counter-terrorism training is about ensuring the QPS is prepared to respond to potential threats.

"Counter-terrorism training is practical, realistic and scenario based, preparing our officers for high-risk events – because when the unthinkable happens, Queenslanders rely on us to respond quickly and decisively,' said Deputy Commissioner Scanlon.

"These training sessions are integrated into our routine operations because the Service recognises the importance of proactively testing our systems and processes at every opportunity. We train together, challenge assumptions, and refine our tactics so that our response is always coordinated, disciplined and effective.

"These exercises are made possible through strong partnerships with major shopping centre, retail and entertainment precincts, stadiums, and other stakeholders across Queensland, allowing agencies to test, and refine their collective response to capabilities."

The exercises were held in high-traffic public areas such as busy sporting venues and retail and entertainment precincts across the state, which also helped not only bolster preparedness of QPS officers, but gave them valuable insight into how to work alongside the relevant stakeholders.

Shopping Centre Council of Australia Chief Executive Angus Nardi and Chair of the Australia-New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee Business Advisory Group, said partnering with police for these exercises has been invaluable in ensuring the appropriate training is being delivered in realistic settings.

"These exercises provide an important opportunity for shopping centre, retail and entertainment precincts to work alongside the QPS, ensuring our teams can work seamlessly if they ever have to respond during an emergency of this nature," Mr Nardi said.

"We value QPS's strong engagement and collaboration with our industry."

Stadiums Queensland Chief Executive Officer Todd Harris also reiterated the importance of collaboration in safeguarding large-scale events, after Suncorp Stadium staff took part in Exercise Sundown.

"This was an important learning opportunity for the Suncorp Stadium team to understand how they can continue to adapt and refine their emergency response plans to help ensure the safety of patrons attending events at the venue," Mr Harris said.

"We hope we never have to use this training, but we are reassured that we have strong partnerships with emergency services like QPS providing a high level of preparedness across our portfolio of venues."

Residents are reminded that the current National Terrorism Threat Level remains at 'PROBABLE'.

While police and authorities at every level are working together to put a stop to, prepare for, and respond to concerning events of this nature, it is important the community is still ready to respond quickly and safely, if an attack happens.

In the face of an armed offender, the Queensland community is encouraged to Escape. Hide. Tell.

Escape means move quickly and quietly away from danger, but only if it is safe to do so.

Ensure you are aware of your surroundings – if you see commotion, hear screams, gunfire, or loud noises, try to identify where it is coming from.

Hide means stay out of sight and silence your mobile phone.

If you are unable to escape, or unsure if it is safe to do so, you need to hide in a place that puts a sturdy physical barrier between yourself and the offender.

Tell means to call the police by dialling Triple Zero (000) when it is safe.

Never tell at the risk of your own safety, or the safety of others. You may be asked to stay on the line and provide further information that the operator requests or if the situation changes.

The more information you can give about your location, surroundings, the attackers, and the events that have occurred, the faster emergency services can respond.

Whilst all situations are different, and decisions during an attack can change quickly, it is important to remember the principles Escape. Hide. Tell. to ensure police and emergency services can respond and act accordingly.

Escape Hide Tell Community Kit

Exercise Banshee locations: