Victoria
Labor promises to introduce Jack's Law in Victoria if re-elected
The Victorian Government has promised to expand police wanding powers to target knife crime if it is returned to office.
Victorian Labor has pledged to introduce "Jack's Law" if the party is returned to government at the upcoming state election, promising to expand police powers to search for weapons in public areas.
According to reporting by ABC News, the policy commitment would bring Victorian policing closer to the model established in Queensland. In that state, Jack's Law allows police officers to use hand-held metal-detecting wands in designated public transport hubs and entertainment precincts without a warrant, aiming to reduce knife-related violence.
Specific details regarding how the law would operate within the Victorian legal framework remain thin. The government has not yet confirmed the exact locations where police would be authorised to conduct these searches; nor has it clarified whether the powers would be permanent or subject to a trial period. It also remains unclear how the policy would interact with existing Victorian human rights legislation.
Advocates for the law point to its success in Queensland, where police have seized hundreds of weapons since its implementation. However, civil liberties organisations have previously expressed caution about expanding search powers, raising concerns about potential overreach and the impact on civil rights.
The Victorian Opposition is yet to formalise its response to the Labor proposal, and the anticipated cost of training police officers and equipping them with the necessary metal-detecting devices has not yet been disclosed by campaign officials.
Watch to see whether the Victorian Coalition matches this pledge or proposes alternative measures to address public safety and knife crime ahead of the polling day.
This report draws on original reporting by ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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