Question Time: New police powers to fight knife crime in party precincts

Queensland police will soon have powers to use ‘wanding’ devices on public transport and party precincts in a bid to fight knife crime. QUESTION TIME BLOG

Julia Spicer is Queensland’s next chief entrepreneur.

Police will be granted powers to use ‘wanding’ devices on public transport and in more safe night precincts in a push from the Palaszczuk government to combat knife crime.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new laws will be named in memory of Jack Beasley, who was killed in 2019 in an incident involving a knife.

The government has run a trial of ‘wanding’ devices on the Gold Coast since May last year, with 197 weapons seized after almost 16,800 people were scanned.

Ms Palaszczuk said the trial had proven so successful that it would be extended for another two years, and be widened to include all safe night precincts and public transport.

Jack Beasley and his dad Brett.

“That will include all trams, buses, trains and ferries, all public transport stations and associated infrastructure,” the Premier told the parliament.

“By extending into public transport and infrastructure, we also provide police with the scope to detect weapons in areas that carry large numbers of people and police will have a strong focus on rail transport corridors.

“By broadening wanding powers, we can build on the results experienced on the Gold Coast and further enhance public safety across the state.”

Knives, machetes and knitting needles among the weapons that have been seized as part of the trial on the Gold Coast, which has resulted in almost 500 people being charged.

PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF ENTREPRENEUR

A Goondiwindi business owner has been announced as Queensland’s new chief entrepreneur.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Julia Spicer OAM was a member of Queensland’s Innovation Advisory Council and had received many awards as a woman of influence.

“Mrs Spicer has founded and grown several successful regional businesses within her current hometown of Goondiwindi, and has been a champion for start-up and business entrepreneurialism in rural, regional and remote communities,” she said.

“In 2022, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to the community through a range of organisations.

“I am confident that our new chief entrepreneur will help us keep our innovation light shining in the decade before 2032.”

Former chief entrepreneur Wayne Gerard. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Premier also thanked outgoing chief entrepreneur Wayne Gerard, who would continue to be a member of the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Committee.

“Wayne was instrumental in developing our new Innovation Roadmap, setting up the Innovation Advisory Council and over his term he has generously provided his time, experience and expertise to support innovation in Queensland,” she said.

“I want to thank Wayne for all his work in this voluntary role over the past 18 months and wish him well on his future endeavours.”

Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Mrs Spicer had proven herself to be a “strong advocate” for regional Queensland.

“We want to tap into innovation and entrepreneurship in regional Queensland and deliver opportunities to grow ideas, create jobs and prosper in the emerging global future economy,” he said.

“As an Order of Australia medal recipient for services to rural and regional communities, Julia Spicer understands what makes regional Queensland tick and how to champion start-ups to thrive.

“They’re exactly the credentials we need to maximise opportunities on the world stage and drive Queensland’s decade-long innovation roadmap to success.”

Mrs Spicer said she looked forward to helping ensure Queenslanders can access the “innovation ecosystem” – no matter where they are located.

“We have so much talent in Queensland, and I want to shine a spotlight on the quality people and products that Queensland produces to the world stage and also to traditional Queensland industries to build a culture of innovation and success, both locally and globally,” she said.

Rs Spicer will step into the role from next month.