Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Petitions

Private security

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) presented a petition bearing 77 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that there is a need to change and or amend the Private Security Act 2004, Control of Weapons Act 1990 and Control of Weapons Regulations 2021 to allow unarmed security and crowd controllers access to certain non-lethal weapons and protective clothing, including OC sprays, batons, handcuffs and stab vests. In light of the Bondi Junction mass stabbings in Sydney involving an unarmed security guard being killed alongside six people and an infant and other people being seriously injured, guards should have access to non-lethal weapons and protective clothing to avoid or minimise the loss of life. Acts and regulations need to be changed and amended to allow security guards to receive adequate training and use of these types of equipment as part of CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations (Unarmed Guard/Crowd Controller) in Victoria. The certificate should allow guards in high populous settings such as shopping centres, Services Australia offices, festivals and hospitals access to protective clothing and non-lethal weapons in order to be able to safely subdue and arrest an offender if an attack happens in that setting.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to amend the Private Security Act 2004, Control of Weapons Act 1990 and Control of Weapons Regulations 2021 to allow unarmed security and crowd controllers access to certain non-lethal weapons and protective clothing.

Jeff BOURMAN: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.