New laws targeting knife crime are a step closer to being rolled out across all of Queensland.
A Bill to expand and extend the Gold Coast trial to detect weapons and combat violence in party precincts will go to a public hearing today.
If passed, the Bill, known as Jack’s Law, will see the police trial of wanding powers extended for two years and expanded to all Safe Night Precincts and public transport.
The laws were championed by the parents of Gold Coast teenager Jack Beasley, who was stabbed to death on a night out in Surfers Paradise in 2019.
Acting Police Minister Mark Furner said today was a vital step in cementing the important change.
“This is all about community safety, and Public Hearings of this nature provide committee members the opportunity to drill down into the details of the Bill and make the recommendations needed to meet community expectations. We welcome any recommendations following the committee,” Minister Furner said.
“The Queensland Government is always looking at ways to improve community safety, and Jacks’ Law will not only give Queenslanders using our rail networks and going into Safe Night Precincts peace of mind, but we firmly believe it will reduce knife crime and save lives.
“We will always work with the QPS and other agencies and organisations, including the Beasley Foundation, to keep crime off our streets.”
Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said the trial sends a clear message to those choosing to carry weapons in public places.
“Wanding has proven to be a very effective proactive initiative for police to prevent violent crimes in Surfers Paradise and I’m very supportive of the expansion of these measures across the State,” Deputy Commissioner Wheeler said.
“Throughout the trial we have seen hundreds of dangerous weapons being detected and taken off our streets.
“There is absolutely no reason why a law-abiding citizen needs to arm themselves with knives, knuckle dusters or screw drivers as we have seen on the Gold Coast.”
Founders of the Beasley Foundation, Brett and Belinda Beasley, have thrown their support behind the statewide expansion.
“Jack’s Law is about child safety and it’s about keeping all our kids, and the wider community safe,” Mr Beasley said.
“I think every single Queensland parent should be right beside us in doing this. At the end of the day, we just want to keep our kids safe.
“I’m hoping Jack’s Law will clean up these knives and stop these kids carrying weapons. It’s important we’re at this stage, but the trial needs to be extended.”
The committee is due to table its report in the Legislative Assembly on February 17, 2023.
