Weapon search laws under fire
Police search powers are set to become permanent in Queensland after grabbing national attention, prompting a backlash from a civil liberties group.
The Liberal National government has come under fire after confirming Jack’s Law will be among the next round of justice legislation passed by Queensland parliament in 2025.
The LNP had already copped flack after pushing through laws ushering in harsher sentences for kids by Christmas, after its successful “adult crime, adult time” election campaign.
A civil liberties group has now taken aim, slamming the LNP’s move to make weapon search powers permanent under Jack’s Law in 2025.
Jack’s Law has been on trial in Queensland, ensuring police can randomly search people for weapons using metal-detecting wands without a warrant.
It was introduced after the fatal stabbing of teenager Jack Beasley during a night out on the Gold Coast drew national attention.
You might like
NSW, Western Australia and the Northern Territory adopted similar laws after six people were fatally stabbed at a Sydney shopping centre.
Tasmania is set to trial police wanding with Jack Beasley’s parents also campaigning for the measure to be introduced in Victoria.
The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties opposes Jack’s Law becoming permanent, saying there was no evidence it reduced crime.
A Griffith University review of the trial indicates police would abuse their powers and search people based on prejudices and generalisations, the group’s president Michael Cope said.
Stay informed, daily
“Significant numbers of weapons were found during that trial. But no evidence was found that the searches had reduced offending,” he said.
The review found Indigenous people were searched disproportionately, said Cope, which could cause people to feel a diminished sense of belonging, fear, insecurity, anxiety, intimidation and helplessness.
Jack’s Law was introduced by the previous Labor government and was set to be on trial until October 2026.
The LNP confirmed it would be made permanent after ending Labor’s nine-year reign at the October election, saying Jack’s Law had led to the seizure of more than 1000 weapons.
Jack’s Law was first implemented in Queensland’s nightlife precincts and then expanded to sporting areas, bars, shopping centres and public transport.
It will be ushered in with the next round of Queensland’s justice reform in 2025 which will include a public sex offender registry.
It will be dubbed Daniel’s Law, in honour of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe who was abducted while waiting for a Sunshine Coast bus in 2003.
