NO SECOND CHANCE FOR ROGUE SECURITY PROVIDERS
Published Thursday, 23 November, 2006 at 11:55 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
The Beattie Government will introduce Australia’s toughest security provider laws in to Parliament next week, in a dramatic move to rein in rogue operators and set new standards for industry conduct.
Premier Peter Beattie said the new regulatory regime would see unlicensed security guards facing massively increased penalties or jail time.
“We are serious about this crackdown: these new laws bring in penalties of up to $37,500 for a first offence - five times more than the current penalty.
“Unlicensed security guards also face up to 18 months jail for repeat offences for the first time in Queensland.”
Premier Peter Beattie today said amendments to the Security Providers Act would dramatically tighten regulation of the industry.
“The amendments, approved by Cabinet and to be introduced into Parliament next week by Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech, will rein in the rogues and set new standards for industry conduct, training and accountability,” Mr Beattie said.
“Quite simply, we don’t want thugs and criminals in the industry.
“We’ll be using criminal intelligence, unrecorded convictions and other background information to keep members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and other thugs out of the industry.
“These amendments will ensure new standards of conduct, higher levels of training and on-going assessment of the industry.”
Mr Beattie said the Security Providers Amendment Bill delivers on his commitment to legislate a strong policy response to the tragic death of a young man after an incident at a Brisbane hotel several months ago.
“The Bill also implements the undertakings I gave to CoAG about strengthening the private security industry as a bulwark against terrorist threats,” he said.
Mrs Keech said the amendments would help the Government clean up the industry.
“We will dramatically strengthen entry provisions so we can keep undesirables out of the industry,” she said.
“Our regime will include strict industry probity checks, so we can weed out the thugs – before they start work.
“There will be tougher penalties for those operating without a licence, and those who employ them – up from $7500 to $37,500 for a first offence and up to $75,000 or 18 months’ jail for a third or subsequent offence. There was previously no provision to send anyone to jail for breaking the law.
“We will have no hesitation cancelling or suspending the licence of persons who are no longer appropriate to remain in the industry and we will beef up our compliance resources and operations across the State.
“We will license previously unregulated sectors of the industry such as locksmiths, equipment installers, electronic surveillors, dog handlers, in-house security guards, and security advisors.
“The new laws will be effective, contemporary and quality legislation and consistent with the Beattie Government’s priority to enhance community safety and protect property.”
Mrs Keech said staff employed by corporate licence-holders would have to operate under a Code of Conduct based on industry standards.
Training requirements would be strengthened and corporate licence approval be conditional on provision of on-going training to staff by approved industry-based training providers.
“The Government will ensure that anyone doing security work will be regulated under the Act,” Mrs Keech said.
“The definitions in the Act will also be tightened to ensure coverage of those who protect, watch or guard any property - irrespective of the industry or circumstances in which they work.
“The Beattie Government is serious about cleaning up the industry, and industry and employee groups support us in doing so.”
Media contacts: Premier’s office 3224 4500
David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534
22 November 2006
THE KEY REFORMS
• License previously unregulated sectors of the industry such as locksmiths, equipment installers, electronic surveillors, dog handlers, in-house security guards, and security advisors. Licensing firms and personnel in these sectors will allow the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development to check their backgrounds, mandate training and monitor their appropriateness to remain in the industry.
• Tighten background probity checks and increasing the lists of factors that may be used to determine whether a person is suitable to remain in the industry.
• Allow the Department to use criminal intelligence, unrecorded convictions and other background information to weed out of the industry members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and other thugs.
• Mandate Codes of Conduct to ensure that everyone in the industry meets new standards of behaviour.
• Mandate on-going training to force security personnel to learn up-to-date techniques for maintaining order and avoiding escalation of disputes;
• Give the industry associations, employee organisations and other representative groups a supplementary role assisting the Department to audit compliance with Codes of Conduct to ensure those working in the industry are meeting behavioural benchmarks.
• Provide for better information sharing between the Department and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) by allowing the Department to share licensing information with QPS’ Persons of Interest data.
• Sharply increase the statutory penalties for operating without a licence.
• Create a new short term ‘trainee licence’ to encourage people into the industry who meet probity and suitability requirements.
Premier Peter Beattie said the new regulatory regime would see unlicensed security guards facing massively increased penalties or jail time.
“We are serious about this crackdown: these new laws bring in penalties of up to $37,500 for a first offence - five times more than the current penalty.
“Unlicensed security guards also face up to 18 months jail for repeat offences for the first time in Queensland.”
Premier Peter Beattie today said amendments to the Security Providers Act would dramatically tighten regulation of the industry.
“The amendments, approved by Cabinet and to be introduced into Parliament next week by Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech, will rein in the rogues and set new standards for industry conduct, training and accountability,” Mr Beattie said.
“Quite simply, we don’t want thugs and criminals in the industry.
“We’ll be using criminal intelligence, unrecorded convictions and other background information to keep members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and other thugs out of the industry.
“These amendments will ensure new standards of conduct, higher levels of training and on-going assessment of the industry.”
Mr Beattie said the Security Providers Amendment Bill delivers on his commitment to legislate a strong policy response to the tragic death of a young man after an incident at a Brisbane hotel several months ago.
“The Bill also implements the undertakings I gave to CoAG about strengthening the private security industry as a bulwark against terrorist threats,” he said.
Mrs Keech said the amendments would help the Government clean up the industry.
“We will dramatically strengthen entry provisions so we can keep undesirables out of the industry,” she said.
“Our regime will include strict industry probity checks, so we can weed out the thugs – before they start work.
“There will be tougher penalties for those operating without a licence, and those who employ them – up from $7500 to $37,500 for a first offence and up to $75,000 or 18 months’ jail for a third or subsequent offence. There was previously no provision to send anyone to jail for breaking the law.
“We will have no hesitation cancelling or suspending the licence of persons who are no longer appropriate to remain in the industry and we will beef up our compliance resources and operations across the State.
“We will license previously unregulated sectors of the industry such as locksmiths, equipment installers, electronic surveillors, dog handlers, in-house security guards, and security advisors.
“The new laws will be effective, contemporary and quality legislation and consistent with the Beattie Government’s priority to enhance community safety and protect property.”
Mrs Keech said staff employed by corporate licence-holders would have to operate under a Code of Conduct based on industry standards.
Training requirements would be strengthened and corporate licence approval be conditional on provision of on-going training to staff by approved industry-based training providers.
“The Government will ensure that anyone doing security work will be regulated under the Act,” Mrs Keech said.
“The definitions in the Act will also be tightened to ensure coverage of those who protect, watch or guard any property - irrespective of the industry or circumstances in which they work.
“The Beattie Government is serious about cleaning up the industry, and industry and employee groups support us in doing so.”
Media contacts: Premier’s office 3224 4500
David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534
22 November 2006
THE KEY REFORMS
• License previously unregulated sectors of the industry such as locksmiths, equipment installers, electronic surveillors, dog handlers, in-house security guards, and security advisors. Licensing firms and personnel in these sectors will allow the Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development to check their backgrounds, mandate training and monitor their appropriateness to remain in the industry.
• Tighten background probity checks and increasing the lists of factors that may be used to determine whether a person is suitable to remain in the industry.
• Allow the Department to use criminal intelligence, unrecorded convictions and other background information to weed out of the industry members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and other thugs.
• Mandate Codes of Conduct to ensure that everyone in the industry meets new standards of behaviour.
• Mandate on-going training to force security personnel to learn up-to-date techniques for maintaining order and avoiding escalation of disputes;
• Give the industry associations, employee organisations and other representative groups a supplementary role assisting the Department to audit compliance with Codes of Conduct to ensure those working in the industry are meeting behavioural benchmarks.
• Provide for better information sharing between the Department and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) by allowing the Department to share licensing information with QPS’ Persons of Interest data.
• Sharply increase the statutory penalties for operating without a licence.
• Create a new short term ‘trainee licence’ to encourage people into the industry who meet probity and suitability requirements.