South Australia brings in ‘toughest knife laws in the country’ following review into spate of attacks

COMMENT

The South Australian government has already signalled a clear warning to knife thugs with the new parliamentary year about to start.

It will introduce a raft of laws cracking down on escalating knife crime and those who perpetrate them.

It follows a long-running review, perhaps far too long, and a spate of ugly and potentially deadly incidents including a recent shopping centre attack.

Police will be given far greater powers to swoop on suspected offenders in public places.

As well as existing declared precincts such as the Glenelg tourist area, police powers will extend to shopping malls, public transport hubs, childcare centres, preschools, kindies and university campuses.

“While there are legitimate reasons to own a knife, recent events both locally and interstate have highlighted the need for us to crack down on potential knife crime,” Premier Peter Malinauskas says.

“These laws are a major step forward in minimising the risk of knife crime and ensuring authorities have the powers they need to use wands to search those who may put members of the public at risk” he said.

So once the laws are passed police can declare a public precinct, anytime anywhere.

Gone will be any red tape which delays necessary and forceful police action if required.

The officer in charge can enact the laws without hesitation.

“We can declare that location up to six hours which will give us those powers in that location,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens explained.

“Police will have the power to use searching tools such as wands in those precincts without further justification,” he said.

New Police Minister Stephen Mullighan and Attorney-General Kyam Maher both say these new reforms will see SA with the strongest knife laws in the country.

“Giving police these new powers mean they can stop knife crime before it happens and South Australians can continue to feel safe in their community,” Mullighan explained.

Maher thanked all the people who had their say during a lengthy consultation.

New laws will also require secure retail storage of knives and the creation of two new offences for supplying knives to minors.

They’ll require clear signage that it’s an adult only purchase and most knives will be kept under lock and key.

The government was keen to emphasise that “fishos” on public jetties with sharp knives in their tackle boxes will be given leniency unless they create a nuisance.

To help prosecutive public acceptance, police brought a cache of seized weapons to the media conference which clearly all had the potential to inflict serious or even fatal injuries.

The Opposition rightly claims it originally pushed for the sweeping changes.

Maher brushed that notion aside by saying the Liberal proposal didn’t go nearly far enough.

Shadow Police Minister Jack Batty chose an unfortunate phrase to get his message across.

“I’m not interested in getting into a knife fight with Kyam Maher,” he said.

“It’s taken the Liberal Party to embarrass the government into the changes.”

So, with Adelaide to become crammed with tourists, Mad March festivities, public gatherings and potentially anti-social behaviour, when can we expect the new laws to be gazetted?

There seems to be little resistance and no major amendments to the Bill, but the A-G remains cautious.

He’s confident the laws will be pushed through parliament “as soon as possible”.

Let’s hope so.