Queensland rejects NT-style pepper spray trial after Mackay man charged

A state MP believes the State Government is out of step with the public on calls for a NT style trial of pepper spray to defend against attackers. POLL

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said Katter's Australian Party will be introducing another parliamentary petition for the adoption of castle law in Queensland.

While the NT government rolls out a pepper spray trial allowing civilians to use it for self defence, in Queensland a man was charged after using it to fight off a would-be home invader.

Now a Katter’s Australian Party MP is claiming the Crisafulli government is out of step with the public desire to legalise pepper spray.

The Northern Territory government is rolling out its own 12-month trial allowing Territorians to buy, sell and carry Oleoresin Capsicum spray for self defence from September 1.

KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto — already pushing to make lethal force lawful against home invaders — said not running a similar trial in tandem with Queensland’s neighbours would be a “missed opportunity”.

“Mr Crisafulli would be well placed to have a chat with Lia Finocchiaro the Chief Minister up in the NT,” he said.

“The way she is implementing tough on crime legislation in the NT right now is trailblazing and I commend her for it.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Daniel Purdie quickly rejected Mr Dametto’s calls for a trial in a session of parliament, noting that pepper spray presented “significant risks including potential misuse and unintended harm”.

Pepper spray, or oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, is a nonlethal device used to incapacitate people by causing a painful burning sensation and temporary vision impairment.

It is currently legal in WA.

Aldwin Serrano appeared in the Mackay Magistrate's court for one count of possessing illegal category R weapons after police found six pepper spray cans at his property in Eimeo. Photo: Luke Lay

Mackay MP and former cop Nigel Dalton — who experienced being pepper sprayed in the police academy — said it was a “horrible substance” and his party already had effective legislation which allowed people to defend themselves.

He said he couldn’t see how a member of the public was going to be able to use it in an effective way when trained police struggle.

“Police officers have all their accoutrements around their waist or sometimes around their body armour and it’s quite quickly accessible,” Mr Dalton said.

Mackay MP Nigel Dalton said the state had effective legislation put in place to protect the public.

“But even in the moments that we, as a police service, have to deploy it, it is sometimes quite tricky to get out and deploy it in the right direction in a timely manner.

“I just can’t really see, once an attack is underway, that you could quickly grab that pepper spray from the article that you’re carrying it in.”

It’s a debate that’s fired up locally after a Mackay man was placed on a six month $250 good behaviour bond for buying six pepper spray cans off Wish after he “rolled out a can” on a man who smashed his window trying to break into his home.

A poll by this masthead of 3,423 readers revealed 91 per cent agreed pepper spray should be legal.

Originally published as Queensland rejects NT-style pepper spray trial after Mackay man charged