The Queensland Government has introduced legislation to Parliament to strengthen police powers and protect Queensland’s vital business precincts from crime, antisocial behaviour and drug-related offending.

The new laws deliver critical reforms to restore safety where you live and strengthen frontline policing.

Premier David Crisafulli and the Minister for Police made the announcement in Maryborough, where antisocial behaviour and disorderly conduct flourished.

The Queensland Government held community forums between July and September last year across the state, including two in Maryborough, to hear directly from residents and local businesses about the impacts of antisocial behaviour, listening to their ideas about solutions and responsive actions.

As part of the Queensland Government’s plan to restore safety where you live, the Government will:

• Introduce new Designated Business and Community Precincts in targeted areas across Queensland.
• Arm police with stronger tools to immediately remove and ban offenders engaging in disorderly, offensive, threatening or violent behaviour in key commercial areas.
• Allow police to issue 24-hour move-on directions to offenders and banning notices of up to one month for repeat or serious offenders.

Contravening these directions will be a criminal offence.

It’s just one of the ways the Queensland Government is making Queensland safer.

The reforms will also extend Jack’s Law wanding powers into Designated Business and Community Precincts, enabling police to detect knives and weapons without a warrant and prevent violence before it occurs.

These measures introduced by the Queensland Government are designed to restore safety where you live in the heart of regional communities, where antisocial behaviour, drug offending, and violence have driven away customers, intimidated workers and threatened local economies.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was leaving no stone unturned to restore safety where you live.

“For too long, proud regional communities across Queensland have been impacted by the wave of antisocial behaviour and this marks a critical step in delivering change,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“We’re committed to making Queensland safer and at the heart of that commitment is ensuring police have the tools, the resources and the tough laws they need.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the legislation would give police the laws they need.

“We are strengthening police powers, allowing officers to move on offenders, ban repeat troublemakers, and stop crime before it escalates,” Minister Purdie said.

“If you threaten or intimidate people, carry knives, or use drugs, police will now have the authority to remove you and keep our communities safe.

“This legislation backs our police, backs our small businesses, and delivers safer communities.”

Member for Maryborough John Barounis said the Queensland Government had listened to the needs of the community to deliver much needed change.

“The Queensland Government has listened to the community and is committed to restoring safety where you live and giving our hardworking police the tools, resources and laws they need to act.” Mr Barounis said.