Labor backflips on search powers

Premier Ben Carroll announced Victoria will adopt Jack's Law, giving police power to randomly search anyone for knives with metal detectors starting early next year.

“Anywhere, anytime.”

What is Jack's Law

Named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise in 2019. Police will get 1,200 handheld metal-detecting wands to use on any person in public.

Studies show it doesn't work

A Griffith University study of Jack's Law on the Gold Coast found no reduction in violence from the searches. Experts say there's no evidence it reduces knife-related violence.

“There's no evidence that it's in any way effective in actually reducing knife related violence, which is the whole premise of the law.”

Human rights concerns raised

The Human Rights Law Centre says the powers give police unchecked authority to harass marginalised groups while doing nothing to keep communities safe.

Indigenous people disproportionately targeted

In Queensland, 22.6% of people searched were Indigenous, despite making up only 4.6% of the population. Over 160,000 people were scanned in one year.

Searches rarely find weapons

Two years of Victorian data showed just over 1% of searches in designated areas found illicit items, including weapons.

Complete reversal from last year

Labor previously resisted expanding search powers under Jacinta Allan. When asked why the change, Carroll simply said 'I'm the new premier.'

Jack's father welcomes the move

Brett Beasley said it was 'about bloody time' and urged politicians to put politics aside and focus on community safety.

“Put the politics aside and let's focus on the community safety and that's what Jack's Law is all about.”