Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has welcomed the NSW Government’s package of reforms to target possession of knives, particularly among young people, reduce knife crime and boost community safety.
Tesch said the Government was taking immediate action to send a clear message that it is not OK to carry a knife.
“I know that Coasties have been following the media coverage of recent tragic stories, including the impact that knife-related violence has on victims and families,” she said.
“These are sensible reforms, which will get knives off our streets and keep our community safer.
“These reforms are in addition to the doubling of the maximum penalties for various knife-related offences in 2023 and the Government’s commissioning of a review by the NSW Sentencing Council into sentencing for knife-related weapons offences.
“The NSW Government is committed to keeping our community safe and will explore every option to do so.”
The NSW Government has announced it will develop legislation modelled on Queensland’s Jack’s Law which will give police powers to “wand” or “scan” people for knives without a warrant in designated areas, including transport hubs, shopping centres and other crowded places.
The powers will be made available in circumstances where a relevant weapons offence/knife crime has occurred within the past six months.
An authority can be issued to police, to last for 12 hours, with an option to extend as required.
The legislation will also make it illegal to sell knives to a child under the age of 18, with provisions for exemptions for retailers selling to young people who need a knife for their work or study.
There will also be an increase penalties for people selling knives to young people under the age of 18.