- Knives and other items to be banned for sale to juveniles under new laws passed by parliament.
- Using false identification to purchase these items will be an offence.
- Retailers, should they wish to do so, will be able to immediately restrict sale of controlled items to minors prior to the commencement of the offence provisions within the Bill by proclamation.
- Retailers will be required to display signage regarding the prohibition of sales to juveniles and have obligations requiring secure storage for certain weapons.
The Queensland Parliament has passed new laws banning the sale of knives and other items to minors, an initiative that will help to protect the community and further combat knife crime and youth offending.
The new laws make the sale of knives, replica firearms including gel blasters that are also replica firearms, and edged weapons like machetes, axes, and swords to juveniles, an offence.
The new laws are designed to reduce the accessibility of certain items to young people, disrupt and deter violent offences while enhancing community safety.
Under the legislation, any young person attempting to use false identification to purchase these items could also be charged with an offence.
To further curb the notoriety of weapon possession among young people, it will be prohibited for knives and other items to be advertised in a violent manner or in a way that suggests they are ‘suitable for combat’.
The legislation contains a significant amendment to provide retailers with flexibility to restrict the sale of controlled items to minors prior to the commencement of the offence provisions within the Bill by proclamation.
This is achieved by making clear that any retailer that refuses to sell a controlled item to a minor will not be taken to discriminate against the person, on the basis of age, under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1999.
This ensures that any retailer who wishes to introduce measures to restrict the sale of knives and other items to minors can do so immediately and with confidence.
The new laws follow research conducted by Queensland Police Service (QPS), including an assessment of crime statistics, comparisons to knife crime in other jurisdictions and consideration of comparable legislative responses in Queensland including the sale of spray paint to minors.
The new laws further support Jack’s Law, the nation-leading legislation that authorises police wanding operations.
Thanks to Jack’s Law, police have taken more than 450 knives and other dangerous weapons off the streets.
Jack’s Law is the result of the dedicated advocacy of Brett and Belinda Beasley in reforming knife crime legislation, in honour of their 17-year-old son Jack, who was tragically fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:
“The passing of these new laws is another plank in the government’s comprehensive strategy to support community safety.
“The new laws will help to keep dangerous items out of the hands of young criminals.
“The new laws will further support the significant impact Jack’s Law is having in getting dangerous items off the streets.
“I want to thank Jack Beasley’s parents Brett and Belinda for continued advocacy in relation to knife crime.
“It was thanks to Brett and Belinda’s relentless efforts that Jack’s Law became a reality.
“And I know that Brett and Belinda are extremely pleased that these new laws have been passed by the parliament.
“The advocacy from Brett and Belinda has been instrumental in putting Queensland on the map as nation-leading in the fight against knife crime.”
Quotes attributable to Commissioner Katarina Carroll:
“Too many times we have seen the devastation which can result from possessing a knife including lifelong trauma for the victims, their families, and the community.
“Therefore, the Queensland Police Service welcomes the new laws as another tool for police to use in ensuring the best protection for the community.
“We are relentlessly focused on disrupting dangerous behaviour to ensure the community feels safe not only in their own homes but also in public.
“There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to be carrying a weapon in public and the QPS makes no excuses holding those that choose to do so, to account.”
Quotes attributable to Brett Beasley:
“Belinda and I advocated very strongly for these laws to be introduced, and we are both very pleased to see the restrictions on knife sales to minors being put in place.
“Knives and other dangerous items have no place in a young person’s life.
“We have to combat knife crime from every angle; by educating young people about the dangers of knives and by restricting the availability of knives to young people.
“I thank the Premier and the government for taking this positive step.”
Fast facts:
- Under the new laws:
- It will become an offence to sell knives and certain other items to minors.
- It will become an offence to use false identification to purchase these items.
- It will become an offence to advertise these items as ‘suitable for combat’.
- Retailers will be required to securely store particular items prior to sale.
- Retailers will be required to display signage regarding age restriction for sales.
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