Roger Cook says new knife scan laws priority before March State election

New laws giving police the powers to scan people for knives and other dangerous weapons, will be introduced into State Parliament on Tuesday as the countdown begins till the next State election. With just 27 sitting days of parliament left before the March poll, Mr Cook is keen to get key legislation passed. Under proposed laws, officers using hand-held metal detectors known as wands, will be able to scan people any time within new protected entertainment precincts or short-term knife scan zones. Parliament resumes on Tuesday after the winter break. “We will hit the ground running when State Parliament resumes,” Mr Cook said. “A key focus is my Government’s historic crackdown on thugs who carry knives in public, which is why we are introducing the toughest knife laws in the nation. “The laws allow police to scan people for dangerous weapons anytime, anywhere and deliver harsher penalties to deter those thugs who are perhaps thinking of doing the wrong thing.” WA has four-year fixed parliamentary terms, with the state Election scheduled for March 8, 2025. Mr Cook’s Labor Party starts the election contest with 53 seats out of 59 in the Legislative Assembly - the Liberals and the Nationals each holding 3 seats. Mr Cook took over the mantle of Premier in 2023, following the shock resignation of Mark McGowan. Passing important legislation will be vital to Labor’s re-election chances in 2025. Mr Cook said passing the Family Violence Legislation Bill, which makes it mandatory for courts to impose electronic monitoring on repeat and high-risk family violence perpetrators who are on bail, was also a priority as well as overhauling the environmental approvals system. With cost-of-living expected to be the number 1 issue this state and federal election, Mr Cook has also moved to provide relief for struggling families - a $400 power credit being the centre piece of that help.