Sweeping safety reforms to tackle knife crime – modelled after Queensland laws introduced following the horrific stabbing death of a teenager – are a step closer to becoming a reality in NSW.
The Minns government has announced a raft of reforms to target the possession of knives, particularly among young people, and boost community safety will be rolled out across the state.
The reforms will allow police to use a metal-detecting device to “wand” people for knives in areas such as shopping centres and transport hubs.
The reforms will be similar to Jack’s Law in Queensland – introduced in that state following the death of teenager Jack Beasley in December 2019.
“No parent should go through what the Beasleys and many other families have gone through. No life should be cut short by violent crime,” Police Minister Yasmin Catley said.
“We’ll be looking at how these strategies work in a NSW context. Strategies that we know are making a difference in Queensland.
The 17-year-old died after suffering fatal stab wounds after he was set upon by a group in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast.
Jack’s parents Brett and Belinda Beasley have since founded the Jack Beasley Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation raising awareness of youth and knife crime and campaigning for change around youth justice and police powers to combat knife crime.
Queensland passed Jack’s Law in 2023, allowing police to use metal detectors to identify and seize weapons in busy thoroughfares.
Thousands of people were charged and more than 241 weapons – including flick knives, machetes and knuckledusters – were seized by officers during a trial in May 2021 and November 2022.
Under NSW’s proposed changes, police will be granted powers to “wand” people without warrants in designated areas and make it illegal to sell knives to children under 18.
These powers will be made available in circumstances where a relevant weapons offence, or a crime involving a knife, has occurred within the past six months.
The maximum penalties for selling knives to children will also be increased.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state’s own “Jack’s Law” will be “adapted” for context, with details to be finalised ahead of legislation to be introduced at parliament.
Operation Foil, which ran from April 11-13, resulted in 51 knives and other weapons being seized by police and 145 people being charged with weapons-related offences.
More than 4000 knives have been seized across NSW this year alone.
Mr Minns said many in the state had witnessed the devastating outcome of knife-related violence in recent weeks and months – referring to the horrific stabbing rampage at Bondi and the stabbing of an Assyrian church bishop.
“I know that many in our community have followed the devastating media coverage and heard the stories of victims and families – tragically there have been so many recent examples,” Mr Minns said.
“Our communities are still in mourning, but it’s essential that we step up to take immediate action to send a clear message that NSW will simply not accept these kinds of crimes.”
Mr Minns said the reforms would send a message about the seriousness of knife-related violence and the government’s attempts to address longer-term challenges like mental health issues and the broader incidence of violent crime.
Ms Catley said the Beasleys had been instrumental in working with the government on the reforms, assuring they were a “strong warning” to would-be perpetrators.
“These reforms will give police improved tools to quickly detect concealed knives and take action before a potential perpetrator has the chance to use them,” she said.
Jack’s killing led to an outpouring of grief and a “heightened sense of fear” in Queensland, before the laws were introduced.
Two teenagers were jailed after pleading guilty to his murder and manslaughter, while three other teenagers and a man, Ma-Mal-J Toala, were found not guilty of Jack’s manslaughter in a judge-only trial.
Because the boys convicted over Jack’s death were under 18 at the time of the attack, they cannot be identified under Queensland law.