Plympton real estate attack victim Julie Seed’s fiance Chris Smith backs SA’s knife crime reform

The fiance of a Plympton property manager fatally stabbed to death is backing the ambitious push to crack down on knife crime and accessibility to the weapons.

The fiance of property manager Julie Seed, who was fatally stabbed to death at her Plympton office, has backed a push for tougher knife laws in SA.

The government has floated reforms restricting access to knives in the wake of several incidents both in SA and interstate.

Chris Smith, whose 38-year-old fiance Julie ‘Julez’ Seed was stabbed to death at her Plympton real estate agency office in December 2023, says his views about curbing accessibility to large and offensive weapons had grown since her alleged murder.

“I find it quite disturbing that I can walk into a store and grab large oversized knives without question, but yet I have to ask for permission for a spray can,” Mr Smith said.

“Knife crime across Australia is growing rapidly and it needs to become less accessible.

“There will always be the argument of, ‘but they will grab something else’, but does that mean we sit on our hands and do nothing?

“No. We make this a little more controlled and we tackle the next item head on.”

Julie 'Julez' Seed, 38, with her fiance Chris Smith. Picture: Supplied by Chris Smith

Attorney-General Kyam Maher on Sunday said the potential reform was fuelled by incidents “both locally and interstate” which highlighted the importance of strengthening the state’s knife crime laws.

“South Australia has often led the nation with addressing knife crime – including significant criminal offences for carrying knives and measures to keep them out of the hands of children – and now is an opportune time to look at how we can improve on our existing laws,” he said.

“We are also keen to explore the possibility of whether police powers should be expanded, by allowing them to conduct metal detector searches on public transport.”

Among the catalysts for the government’s action is the Westfield Marion lockdown last month in which a teen allegedly in possession of a machete was involved in a large brawl over a hoodie.

That follows the tragedy at Westfield Bondi Junction where 40-year-old Joe Cauchi stabbed and murdered six people and injured another 12, including a baby girl, on April 30 before he was killed by police.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the time was right to explore tightening the state’s knife laws. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

Mr Smith supported raising the age of legal knife possession to 18, and called for a register for hunting knife owners.

“This is a slow process that needs to be thought through and has a few hurdles on the way,” Mr Smith said.

“But everything is being considered and put forward.

“We are not trying to change and save the world, but some of these may save some lives and prevent some robberies, for example.

“We make some steps harder in this field and if the dial moves to a different weapon, we keep moving forward and tackle that as well.”

While acknowledging every household had knives, Mr Smith said making them less accessible on store shelves could potentially reduce theft and serious incidents.

He said large, oversized weapons could embolden potential offenders.

“If we can prevent in some ways from being in the hands of the person then maybe we prevent some crimes taking place and they second guess, ‘am I capable with what I have?’,” he said.

To read the discussion paper or make a submission, visit yoursay.sa.gov.au/knife-crime

Consultation is now open and closes on August 25, 2024.