The Tasmanian Government is cracking down on knife crime to keep our communities safe, with the Police Offences Amendment (Knives and Other Weapons) Bill 2025 now open for consultation.
This strong new legislation will be known as Reid's Law, to honour the life of Reid Ludwig, a father of two who was tragically stabbed to death at a Blackman's Bay service station in 2019.
Reid's Law will provide police greater search powers to detect knives and introduce stronger penalties for those who illegally carry these dangerous weapons on Tasmanian streets.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said the implementation of Reid's Law and metal detection wands will be key in combatting the scourge of knife crime in Tasmania.
"This is the right thing to do, and it will save Tasmanian lives," Minister Ellis said.
"Our trial of metal detection wands under existing laws has already proven successful, with 1 in 5 searches resulting in the confiscation of a dangerous article.
"Reid's Law will provide greater search powers for Police to conduct these safe, non-invasive searches and get knives off our streets.
"Importantly, under this strong new legislation our Government will be able to throw the book at the idiots who carry flick knives and machetes to cause fear and threaten community safety.
"I want to thank Laraine Ludwig and the Jack Beasley Foundation for their tireless advocacy and engagement in the development of Reid's Law and the implementation of metal detection wands.
"Tasmanians have told us they want a government who keeps them safe, and through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, that's exactly what we are doing."
