Jack’s Law backed in ALP crime reversal

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll announced new legislation granting police expanded powers to conduct random handheld metal detector searches in public, aiming to curb the state's rising knife crime. The proposed "Jack’s Law" seeks to build on Queensland’s successful model and responds to growing violence by enabling more flexible and widespread weapon detection efforts across Victoria.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced plans to introduce expanded police powers allowing the use of handheld metal detectors for random public searches, a shift from the previous government’s stance on the issue. The proposed legislation, known as Jack’s Law, is modeled on similar laws implemented in Queensland and aims to address rising knife crime across the state.

Under the new proposal, police officers and protective services officers would be granted authority to conduct random scanning with handheld metal detectors in public areas without requiring prior declarations, which currently limit the use of these powers to designated zones and fixed timeframes. Victoria Police already employ these scanning devices in certain controlled areas, but the law would broaden their application to include unrestricted public spaces.

Jack’s Law is named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise in 2019. His parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, have advocated for stronger anti-knife crime legislation in Queensland and other Australian states since their son’s death. Queensland’s law, enacted in 2025, grants police permanent powers to search for and confiscate knives and machetes and has reportedly resulted in over 1,400 weapons being removed from the streets in less than a year.

The announcement by Mr. Carroll marks a policy reversal from his predecessor, Jacinta Allan, who resisted implementing similar measures despite rising incidents of violent crime involving edged weapons in Victoria. The issue gained prominence after the Andrews government initiated a $13 million machete amnesty program, yet knife-related offences have continued to escalate.

Victoria has experienced a sharp increase in knife crime, with police seizures of edged weapons reaching over 15,000 in 2025, averaging approximately 47 per day. Incidents involving machetes notably tripled from around 610 in 2021 to more than 2,000 in 2024. These figures have intensified calls for more robust law enforcement responses.

In addition to expanding scanning powers, the government plans to procure 1,200 additional handheld metal detectors for police use. Premier Carroll cited ongoing legal uncertainty following a recent Federal Court challenge to existing designated area laws, emphasizing the need to work with legal experts to ensure the proposed legislation withstands judicial scrutiny.

Victoria Police Minister Paul Edbrooke described the plan as delivering “more police and more powers” to combat violent crime, highlighting that the enhanced stop-and-search powers would enable authorities to detect and remove deadly blades “anywhere, any time.” Labor member for Footscray Katie Hall also expressed support, saying the law would help police find knives before injuries occur and responding to constituents’ concerns about public safety.

Carroll framed the initiative as a commitment to community safety, aligning his government with families affected by violence and seeking to restore public confidence amid the escalating knife crime crisis.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.