MEDIA STATEMENT: A Fresh Start for Queensland: Jack’s Law to be permanent

A Fresh Start for Queensland: Jack’s Law to be permanent

• New Crisafulli Government announces police wanding laws to become permanent in Queensland
• Landmark permanent laws will be part of the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws to be delivered in 2025
• Premier makes announcement at the Walk 4 Jack event on the Gold Coast 

The new Crisafulli Government has announced landmark police wanding laws will be made permanent in Queensland. 

The legislation will be introduced as part of the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws to be delivered in 2025. 

Known as Jack’s Law, the legislation was named in honour of Queensland teenager Jack Beasley who was stabbed and killed on the Gold Coast in 2019 while on a night out with friends. 

The laws allow police to use handheld metal detectors without a warrant in shopping and retail centres, sporting and entertainment venues, safe night precincts, licensed premises and on public transport. 

Premier David Crisafulli said his government was focused on making our community safer. 

“Before the election my team promised Queenslanders we would make Jack’s Law permanent and that is exactly what we are going to do,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“We must take a zero tolerance approach to knife crime and making Jack’s Law permanent just makes sense.

“We will introduce the legislation as part of the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws next year. 

“Jack’s parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, are incredible Queenslanders who have fought in the face of heartache to make these laws permanent and we will deliver on the promise we made to them and to Queenslanders.” 

Police Minister Dan Purdie said Queenslanders would not forget that Labor had refused to make Jack’s Law permanent. 

“While knife crime exploded in Queensland thanks to Labor’s weak laws, Steven Miles and the Labor Party refused to listen to victims of crime,” Minister Purdie said. 

“While our government was passing the first tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws before Christmas, the Labor Party was tearing themselves apart because behind closed doors they do not support our stronger laws. 

“After a decade of chaos and crisis under Labor, the Crisafulli Government is backing our police officers with stronger laws and making Jack’s Law permanent proves again we are serious about it.” 

The LNP fought to roll out the first iteration of Jack’s Law following the death of Jack Beasley and had campaigned to make them permanent. 

In Government, the Labor Party set October 2026 as an end date for the trial of the laws. 

Jack’s father Brett Beasley said making Jack’s Law permanent was a no-brainer. 

“I want to thank the Crisafulli Government for listening to victims of crime and for committing to make these laws permanent. 

“It should have been made permanent years ago. 

“Jacks law is working, it’s proven its point at the moment with the amount of arrests and knives that have been taken off our streets.

“The laws have already seen hundreds of weapons seized that could have been used to hurt or kill someone and there is no doubt making the laws permanent will save lives.

“We back the Crisafulli Government 110% and we can’t wait until it’s a permanent law.

“We are big believers in the adult crime adult time laws. If these laws had of been in place years ago Jack’s killer would have got life imprisonment.

“I have no doubt this decision to make Jack’s Law permanent will save lives.” 

The second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws will also include legislation to create a public sex offender registry. 

That legislation will be known as Daniel’s Law in honour of Queensland school boy Daniel Morcombe. 

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Lily Cooke 0431 218 202