The CLP’s Reducing Crime package, including Declan’s Law, will ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Territory school students, staff, and visitors.
By ensuring police can wand for edged weapons and introducing mandatory sentencing for front line workers such as teachers, schools will once again be a safe place where children can learn.
Department of Education data shows there were 56 reported incidents involving edged weapons in or around schools from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, which disrupted learning by causing 34 lockdowns to date in 2024.
Declan’s Law expands existing policies and procedures already in place to deal with weapons in schools.
It will protect principals from having to search students suspected of carrying an edged weapon themselves, instead giving police the power to conduct wanding with their consent if:
there are reasonable suspicions that an offence involving a weapon is likely to be committed; or if within the last six months an armed or violent offence has been committed;or more than one weapon offence has been committed.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said teachers and students had a right to feel safe at school.
“Our message is clear. Weapons have no place at school,” she said.
“We know there are too many knives and similar weapons in the hands of the wrong people and we want young people to feel and be safe when they are at school.
“Knives are a big problem outside the school gate – we don’t want them coming through the gate.
Jill Hazeldine, Principal of Darwin High School, hoped the new laws would act as a strong deterrent and keep weapons out of schools.
“As a principal, one of my priorities is student and staff safety and the proposed changes provide additional tools to support that.”
Education and Training Minister Jo Hersey said teachers would also be protected by the CLP’s new minimum mandatory sentencing laws for assaults on workers.
“There were 335 assaults against teachers last financial year, up 19 from the previous period, which is shocking and unacceptable,” she said.
“This equates to more than eight teachers assaulted every week in the school year.
“We need to retain and attract exceptional teachers to the Territory, but we can’t do that if their safety is under threat.
“The CLP’s Reducing Crime legislation will keep our teachers and students safe.”
