TACKLING RISING CRIME: State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish has renewed calls for tougher action on knife crime and bail laws

“We’re lucky crime statistics locally are holding steady, but statewide they are a real problem,” she said

“An elected Liberals and Nationals Government will be stronger on crime than Labor, with tougher bail laws and real consequences for repeat and youth offenders.”

Ms McLeish has questioned the benefit of machete bins and has instead backed her party's proposition to introduce Jack’s Law, invest in crime prevention programs for young people and give police and PSOs the powers and technology with to take knives off criminals.

Jack's Law is a Queensland legislation allowing police to use handheld metal detectors to "wand" people for weapons in public places like safe night precincts and public transport hubs without needing a warrant or reasonable suspicion.

It is named after Jack Beasley, a teenager fatally stabbed in 2019, and his family's advocacy led to its initial trial and subsequent permanent implementation in Queensland. The law's expansion has been proposed and supported in other states like Victoria, as a tool to combat knife crime.