Liberal MP Jack Batty says Adelaide’s knife event should be adults only as the opposition try to pass new knife laws in parliament

Liberal MP Jack Batty has criticised this weekend’s Adelaide Knife Show as the opposition tries to push through its new knife laws. Have your say.

Liberal MP Jack Batty has criticised the Adelaide Knife Show’s decision to allow children into its event, including free entry for children under 16, as the opposition tries to pass its knife Bill in parliament this week.

The Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety said he was not opposed to the event taking place but raised concerns that children were allowed entry.

“I think that we are civilised enough as a society where we can have exhibitions like this in a sensible way,” Mr Batty said.

Liberal MP Jack Batty said he did not believe it appropriate for children to be allowed into the Adelaide Knife Show as the opposition tries to pass new knife laws. Picture: Morgan Sette

“What I do think is that children should be nowhere near them … I mean, it’s pretty scary to think that a 17-year-old could walk into the knife show today and buy a knife.”

But Mick Law (58) from Murray Bridge disagreed, saying children under parental supervision should be allowed to attend the event.

Mr Law agreed however, that increasing the legal age for purchasing a knife from 16 to 18 was appropriate.

“There’s ways and means around it I guess, but if a 16 year-old fronts up and wants to buy a knife, I would say no,” he said.

“Same as buying a pack of cigarettes.”

Sam (22) who did not want to give his last name, from Mitcham, was conflicted.

“Maybe 18 would be more appropriate for the type of knives that they are selling in there,” he said.

“But I think a lot of it is just art and about the finish and design, so I have mixed feelings about it.”

Like Mr Law, Sam agreed that the legal age of purchasing a knife should be raised to 18.

Under current laws, the sale of knives to children aged under 16 years is banned.

However, the Liberal’s proposed legislation, which is due to go to a vote on Wednesday, would lift the ban to include anyone under 18 years of age.

However, a government spokesperson disagreed, saying a large-scale reform was needed.

“We all know that simply forbidding 16-17 year olds from buying new knives won’t be an effective measure,” they said.

“This government is undertaking large-scale reform to our knife laws that will make a difference.”

The government announced on Friday its own set of measures, saying it would introduce laws into state parliament in early 2025.

Labor’s measures include raising the age limit of the knife sale ban, while also making it illegal to supply knives to people under 18 years of age.

Anyone caught supplying a knife to a minor would face up to four years in jail or a maximum fine of $35,000, making the proposed changes the toughest penalties in Australia for the offence.

Other measures include expanding the offence of possession in a school to include early childhood and tertiary institutions along with providing SAPOL with increased powers to conduct metal detector searches in certain areas.

But Mr Batty said the Liberal’s Bill was “one step” that could be quickly taken to help reduce knife crime within the state.

“Why on earth do we have to wait another three months before we see [a Bill] from Labor,” he said.

“We are very open to considering broader knife law reform but this law should be passed quickly in the meantime.”

Newly released SAPOL data revealed knife crime has increased by 15 per cent – from 4706 offences to 4476 offences – in the year to October 31 this year, compared to the same period in the prior 12 months.

The government says these figures show numbers have largely returned to pre-Covid levels.

The organisers of the knife show have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Liberal MP Jack Batty says Adelaide’s knife event should be adults only as the opposition try to pass new knife laws in parliament