John Brumby - Announcement of Australia's toughest knife search and seizure laws

The Premier, John Brumby, today announced the next step in his war on knives, further strengthening the toughest knife search and seizure laws in Australia, as well as a complete ban on the sale of weapons to minors.

Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government had consulted with Victoria Police, hospitals and the community and was taking further action to crack down on knives.

Victoria has the toughest anti-knife regime in Australia, Mr Brumby said.

We have taken numerous steps to address knife attacks over many years and we are determined to keep taking action to make our streets safer.

Transcript

[Premier John Brumby and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron announcing the toughest knife search and seizure laws in Australia]

Brumby: In terms of what we have announced today, I believe it reflects the fact that we have listened to Victoria Police, we've listened to the community. These measures today unquestionably give Victoria the toughest suite of anti knife laws anywhere in Australia.

Australia's toughest knife search and seizure laws
4 March 2010

Bob Cameron
Minister for Police and Emergence services

Cameron: Today we want to talk about knife and weapons powers and as you know over the years, over the last decade, there have been extension to laws around weapons. Late last year we introduced random searches. Today we want to make a further set of announcements. And as we have said all along, we will continue to do things in this space.

John Brumby
Premier of Victoria

Brumby: And so what we are announcing today sends the strongest, clearest possible message. Whether it is to school kids, whether it is to young adults, whether it is to anyone else in the community, firstly that you have a chance of being searched, in an area which might be in the city or elsewhere, if there is any history of knives there, you have a chance of being searched if any area is designated as planned. If you are caught with a knife you will either go to court or be given $1000 on the spot fine which is the largest on the spot fine in our state. And all of this is about sending that message to the community 'there is never an excuse for carrying a knife'.

www.premier.vic.gov.au

Mr Brumby said new measures to give Victoria Australias toughest knife regime, included:
• Giving Police new powers to issue $1000 on-the-spot fines for first time offences for those aged 16 or above caught carrying a knife or other controlled weapon without a lawful excuse, which would also be seized;
• Stronger laws that allow Victoria Police to designate a public area such as a train station or public place for a random weapons search without notice; and
• The toughest knife prohibitions in Australia, with minors (under the age of 18) being prohibited from legally buying a prohibited or controlled weapon.

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