The South Australian state government has tabled new knife crime laws in parliament this week which bans the supply of knives to minors and offers the local police new search powers.
The Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) welcomed the new laws, saying they are a further effective step to addressing the root problem of people, including repeat offenders, bringing dangerous weapons to public places such as shopping centres and other retail settings, with the intent to threaten, intimidate or cause serious harm.
Under the proposed reforms, SA Police will have greater power to conduct wanding searches at shopping centres, public transport hubs, on public transport vehicles and at licensed premises.
It will be an offence to supply a knife to a minor, where the supplier knew or ought to have known that the knife could be used in an offence.
The sale of knives to minors will be banned, without exception. Stores selling certain types of knives will need to keep them securely locked up or tethered. The display of signage stating that knives cannot be sold to minors will be mandated at any retail premises selling knives.
Meanwhile, offences for carrying and using knives at schools and public places will be expanded to cover childcare centres, preschools, kindergartens, universities and TAFE SA campuses.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said recent events both locally and interstate have highlighted the need to crack down on potential knife crime.
This includes the Westfiled Bondi knife attacks that happened last year. Earlier this year, Queensland Police arrested a 13-year-old boy who was later charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of a Coles worker.
“These laws are a major step forward in minimising the risk of knife crime, and ensuring authorities have the powers they need to use wands to search those who may put members of the public at risk,” Malinauskas said.
SCCA chief executive Angus Nardi said the shopping centre industry commends Malinauskus and Attorney-General Kyam Maher for the new laws and for their engagement with them.
“A recent industry survey we conducted highlighted the key ongoing root problem of people bringing dangerous weapons to our shopping centres to engage in aggressive, violent and criminal behaviour,” Nardi said.
“Our recent industry survey also reiterated that further law reform, with an increased SA Police presence, is the most effective solution to address this community-wide problem.
“This is a community-wide problem, and as Premier Malinauskas and Attorney-General Maher have noted, this package is a step forward.”
Over the 2024 Christmas period, the shopping centre industry ran a $7 million campaign across in-centre media screens calling on the community to ‘Be Kind’ to workers in retail settings, including security guards, cleaners, and pharmacy and retail workers.
“Our industry looks forward to continuing to work with the Government, SA Police, and the Retail Crime Working Group convened by the Government, on these important public policy issues, to ensure community safety at our shopping centres and other retail settings,” Nardi said.