Queensland parliament passes Jack’s Law in bid to stem knife crime

One state has passed Jack’s Law to “save the lives” of young people as police are granted greater power to conduct random searches to find concealed knives.

Queensland Police now have the authority to conduct random searches using metal detection wands in safe night precincts, after the state parliament passed Jack’s Law.

The law was created in honour Queensland teen Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast in late 2019 in a random attack.

The 17-year-old died from his injuries and two teens were later jailed over his death.

Jack Beasley was stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise safe night precinct in 2019.

Sparked by the Beasley family advocacy for better knife safety, the government trialled enhanced search powers within the Gold Coast Safe Night precincts in May last year.

The trial equipped police with electronic metal detection wands to help seize concealed knives and weapons.

Following the success of the trial, the parliament passed Jacks Law on Thursday night to expand wanding powers for police across the state for a two-year trial.

The LNP opposition tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to permanently allow the laws.

The two-year trial will be introduced across the state as soon as Queensland Governor Jeannette Young ascends the law on Sunday to mark Jack’s 21st birthday.

The Premier thanked Jack’s parents Brett and Belinda Beasley for their advocacy around knife crime despite enduring a “pain and grief that no parents should ever have to go through”.

“I hope they consider that this bill in Jack’s name is a fitting tribute to their son,” she told Parliament.

“Already lives have been saved in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach by this trial and even more lives will be saved by the extension of this trial.”

The member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek to tears while he read out part of Jack’s mother’s victim impact statement.

“Seeing Jack’s lifeless body, touching him and feeling how cold he was, feeling the stitches all over his body,” Mr Langbroek read out.

“This is something that is imprinted in our minds and will hold us for the rest of our lives.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan with Mr and Mrs Beasley before Jack’s Law was passed. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Aisling Brennan

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the laws would make Queensland a “safer place”.

“It’ll give police broader powers in safe night precincts, on public transport vehicles and in public corridors and in public transport infrastructure to use metal detecting wands to detect knives and save lives,” he said.

“The police have already planned operations in the next couple of weeks.

“If you’re going to be in the Valley next week, be prepared that the police will have the wanding powers and wands ready to go.

“This is about making sure people don’t carry knives, it’s dangerous and can have tragic consequences.

“We want to be in the position where no-one is detected as a result of these laws, that shows that it’s worked.

“But we know there are people out there carrying knives in a safe night precinct.

“They should be prepared to be wanded.”

The Gold Coast-based trial found 197 weapons, including flick knives, replica guns, machetes, screwdrivers and knuckledusters.

The expansion will see police efforts further implemented to Queensland’s 15 Safe Night precincts, on trams, buses, trains and stations.

Queensland Police Service Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said officers were ready to roll out the new laws as soon as they come into effect on Sunday.

“What we’ve done is design a training package and also policies around the use of these laws,” he said.

“We acknowledge these laws are incredibly robust, probably one of the strongest powers the Queensland Police Service has ever been given.”

Mr Wheeler said the “incredible power” the police will wield will be used “judiciously”.

“We’ll see police around transport hubs, railway station, bus terminals and even ferry terminals and also associated works around that area.

“There’s a broad range of areas we can use it.

“There’s a safeguard in there that a senior officer must declare that a wanding operation is required.

“That wanding operation then goes for 12 hours upon declaration.”

Mr Wheeler explained there are “trigger points” that need to occur before a senior officer authorises the operation, including a “predetermined offence” must have occurred in that safe night precinct area in the last six months.

“For instance, any offence involving a knife or a weapon, a serious offence against a person including grievous bodily harm or where someone has been charged with possession of a knife,” he said.

Brett and Belinda Beasley welcome Jack’s Law which will expand wanding powers for police across the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Aisling Brennan

Jack’s parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, welcomed the law named in honour of their late son.

“We’re feeling fantastic, it’s a huge thing to happen today,” Mr Beasley said.

“We couldn’t be prouder to have this law named after our son, it’s is unbelievable.

“It’s been a team effort to get this over the line.

“It’s something Queenslanders want. I think it’s a no-brainer.

“The trial is a good thing we’re happy with the trial for the next two years and I’m sure it’ll go permanent from here.”

Police will use CCTV in those designated areas to assist in their observation of people who might require being searched.

“It’s all captured on camera, body worn and CCTV,” Mr Wheeler said.

“Police are very good at observing people … for instance someone on the Gold Coast when it’s 30 degrees and they are wearing a hoodie, you might want to go speak to that person.”

Mrs Beasley thanked the support her family had received from the police and both sides of parliament to be able to get this legislation across the line.

“It’s very humbling, it’s a law for lots of other kids who’ve lost their lives to knife crime and hopefully this is going to make our community safer,” she said.

“Hopefully our kids can come home safe after a night out.”

Jack Beasley (right) with his dad Brett, who continues to advocate for knife safety.

Mr Beasley said he had a plan to get similar laws rolled out across the country.

“We’re going to try to take it Australia-wide,” he said.

“Let’s hope all the police officers have the same thing.

“I’ll just annoy everybody and make some phone calls, with the help of the minister and (the police).

“Queensland isn’t the only state that has the problem, it’s an Australia-wide problem.

“We’ve already had some few phone calls and a bit of feedback from NSW, Victoria and even Darwin, Northern Territory.”

Mr Ryan said the expansion of the trial for a further two years will provide the data required to keep Jack’s Law in effect into the future.

“There was some learnings out of the Griffith Uni report that the trial needed more data and obviously we’re keen to get this right,” he said.

“It’s important to us that with extraordinary powers that the intent is right but also the safeguards are robust.

“The government thinks that a two year expansion to the trial as well as the expansion to those other areas is appropriate.

“The hope is these will become permanent.

“The trial allows us the opportunity to make sure we get it right.”