Watchdog, public officials oppose bid to increase Qld police powers
The Crisafulli government is under pressure to allow an independent evaluation of Queensland's wanding laws before it gives police greater power to search people in public places.
The LNP this month introduced legislative amendments that would make wanding, under Jack's Law, permanent, and remove various safeguards including the need for evidentiary and subjective tests before a location is authorised for searches.
After parliament sent the amendments to a committee for consideration, several statutory authorities and other stakeholders criticised the LNP's bid to entrench and expand wanding powers without the independent evaluation recommended by a previous committee.
Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Bruce Barbour – who has raised concern about an increase in complaints about police – told the committee the bill should include 'an independent, contemporary review of the expanded wanding trial' as was expected before late 2026.
Victims Commissioner Beck O'Connor supported Jack's Law being made permanent, but also called for a review and the retention of existing safeguards.
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'Any erosion in public confidence and trust that police are exercising their powers fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner may also result in a decrease in reporting of other serious crime, which may ultimately impact upon the support received by those victims of crime,' she said.
The Queensland Police Union not only supported the bill but called for it to go further. It said authorisation should not be required for wanding at major public places including South Bank, the Roma Street rail and parkland precinct, shopping centres and malls.
Queensland Family and Child Commission chief Luke Twyford – who the government appointed to lead its review of the Blue Card system – called for a greater focus on prevention, rather than interventions that might lead to 'unintended consequences'.
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