More than 10,000 Queensland police are being trained how to respond to armed and volatile offenders, amid a climate of terrorism worldwide.
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The police, including Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, are completing the intensive Active Armed Offender (AAO) training program.
Rather than concentrate on isolation and containment, armed police are shown how to go forward towards an armed offender to reduce or suppress the threat.
To date, 1758 officers have completed the rigorous two-day course, after training began in April.
Most frontline officers are expected to be skilled-up by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, a man was charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder after a stabbing attack in Sydney's south-west.
Police Minister Bill Byrne said it was a sad commentary on our society that Australia was no longer immune to armed, dangerous and deranged offenders who had shown they were only too willing to kill and maim innocent bystanders.
"Such horrifying incidents have refocused the QPS AAO training," Mr Byrne said.
"All our officers will be skilled to confront active armed offenders on the spot.
"Queenslanders rightly expect our police to be trained and ready to meet this new threat.
"They train in moving in teams to forcefully confront any active armed offenders."
Photo: Queensland Police Service
Mr Byrne said police also learnt how to clear rooms, stairwells and other areas, to "shrink the sphere of influence" an active armed offender could dominate.
"Frontline officers are presented with a number of scenarios involving 'shoot' and 'no-shoot' situations," he said.
"As well as having to factor in the very real possibility of having to cope with the grim task of moving past casualties and panicked persons."
A significant part of the course involves the use of advanced firearms-related training, including live fire and ammunition skills.
By the end of October, the Queensland Police Service will have 500 officers qualified as instructors for the AAO training, to ensure all frontline police officers are "AAO ready" by the end of 2017.
Queensland Police Service is training in taking out active armed offenders. Photo: Queensland Police Service
