The Crisafulli Government has introduced significant amendments in Parliament to make Jack’s Law permanent.
Jack’s Law was named in honour of teenager Jack Beasley who was stabbed and killed on the Gold Coast in 2019 while on a night out with friends.
The initial legislation, passed in 2023, allowed Queensland police to use hand-held metal detectors to search people without reasonable suspicion in all Safe Night Precincts, at public transport stations and on public transport vehicles for a two-year period.
In addition to making Jack’s Law permanent, the amendments will also allow police to use hand-held scanners to detect deadly weapons, including knives, in any public space.
Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli, said the amendments would remove Labor’s sunset clause which would have seen Jack’s Law end after two years.
Since Jack’s Law was introduced, more than 100,000 scans have been conducted, 2804 people charged, and 1058 weapons taken off the streets.