Chris Minns’ push to double knife crime penalties ahead of NSW election

Opposition leader Chris Minns is pushing for beefed up knife laws following 11 fatal stabbings in four years in NSW. Find out what jail time and fines could apply.

Previous convictions for carrying a knife would become an “aggravating” factor when someone is sentenced for a repeat offence, under new reforms being proposed by the state opposition.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns is pushing for the beefed up knife laws off the back of a concerning number of weapons crimes, including 11 fatal stabbings of teenagers on the state’s streets in just the past four years.

Mr Minns told The Daily Telegraph the opposition’s bill would bring the state in line with the United Kingdom, where the carrying of a knife in public or at school is considered an indictable offence – not a summary offence, as it currently is.

“We have to do something and quickly, because we can’t keep having horrific incidents happening like what we saw at the Royal Easter Show,” he said.

“Or just recently when some young men were attacked because they caught a train to get to footy training.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns has a plan to make knife offenders pay. Picture: David Swift

“It’s why Labor will turn possession of a knife without reasonable excuse from a summary offence into an indictable offence in NSW carrying a maximum of four years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $4400.”

Off the back of its coverage of knife crime in NSW in its new mini docu-series The War: Young Blood, The Daily Telegraph last week revealed a group of six teenagers had allegedly been attacked by a group – one of who was allegedly wielding a knife – at a Western Sydney train station as they made their way to footy training.

NSW Police have since charged two individuals aged 16 and 17, over their alleged involvement in the attack.

Both sides of politics are now vying to get a knife crime solution over the line. Premier Dominic Perrottet announced last week he also wanted “stronger sentences” for knife offenders and had in fact instructed Attorney General Mark Speakman to carry out a review penalties for knife and gun-related offences.

Under the new knife proposal by Mr Minns’ opposition, which was introduced to parliament by Shadow Attorney-General Michael Daley last month, the penalties as they currently stand for possessing a knife would be doubled.

In rising from summary to indictable level, the penalties increase from a $2,200 fine or two years prison, to a $4,400 fine or four years prison.

It is aimed at targeting repeat offenders and ensuring they are treated differently to first-time offenders.

The bill continues to allow for a reasonable excuse to carry a knife, including examples such as requiring it for work – like a butcher or chef – to prepare food or drink, or religious reasons such as carrying a Sikh kirpan.