South Australia has formally expanded its knife law reforms into the public transport network, with more than 30 interchanges, stations and park ‘n’ ride facilities now declared public transport hubs under new police powers designed to improve community safety.
The declarations were made today by South Australian Police using powers introduced under the State Government’s nation-leading knife law reforms, allowing officers to conduct metal detector searches in declared public places and on vehicles operated by declared public transport services. Police can also order individuals or groups who pose a risk to public safety to leave a declared place for up to 24 hours.
The newly declared hubs span metropolitan Adelaide and include major interchanges such as Adelaide Central Bus Station, Tea Tree Plaza Interchange, Glenelg Interchange, Marion Centre Interchange, Noarlunga Centre Interchange and Elizabeth City Centre Interchange, along with multiple railway stations and park ‘n’ ride locations. Any other interchange, station or park ‘n’ ride used by services operating under the Adelaide Metro name is also covered.
These additions build on the Adelaide Railway Station, which became the first declared public transport hub on 19 December, and extend existing declarations already in place across 11 shopping centres introduced by SAPOL earlier this spring.
Entire train services have also been declared under the reforms, including the Gawler, Belair, Seaford, Flinders, Outer Harbour, Grange and Port Dock lines. The declarations will remain in force unless revoked by the Police Commissioner, and can be applied to other areas or public events where there is an increased risk to public safety.
Under the declared powers, penalties apply for a range of offences, including possessing a prohibited weapon, carrying an offensive weapon, or failing to comply with a police direction to leave a declared area. Fines range from $1,250 to $20,000, with potential imprisonment for more serious breaches.
Attorney-General and Deputy Premier Kyam Maher MLC said the changes were introduced to give police the tools they need to intervene early and prevent harm. “The safety of the South Australian community is paramount, that is why we introduced and passed laws for declared public places and transport services and the toughest knife laws of anywhere in the nation,” he said.
“These measures were designed to better equip SA Police to protect the community and to identify dangerous weapons before an incident occurs. Under these search powers in declared shopping centres we have already seen a number of knives detected and removed from circulation.”
The declarations are one element of broader reforms introduced by the SA Government, which also include a total ban on the sale of knives to minors, the reclassification of machetes and swords as prohibited weapons, and the creation of a new offence for supplying a knife to a child who intends, or is likely, to use it in a serious act of violence.
The Government says the reforms are designed to deter weapon-related offences, improve police visibility, and strengthen public confidence across busy transport and retail precincts used by thousands of South Australians each day.
More than 30 transport hubs have been declared as of today and include:
• Aberfoyle Park Interchange
• Adelaide Central Bus Station
• Arndale Centre Interchange
• Blackwood Interchange
• Colonnades Centre Interchange
• Crafers Interchange
• Elizabeth City Centre Interchange
• Elizabeth Railway Station
• Entertainment Centre Park ‘n’ Ride
• Flinders Medical Centre Interchange
• Flinders Railway Station
• Flinders University Interchange
• Glenelg Interchange
• Golden Grove Interchange
• Golden Grove Park ‘n’ Ride
• Klemzig Interchange
• Marion Centre Interchange
• Mawson Central Interchange
• Mawson Interchange
• Mount Barker Dumas Street Park ‘n’ Ride
• Mount Barker Dutton Road Park ‘n’ Ride
• Munno Para Centre Interchange
• Noarlunga Centre Interchange
• Noarlunga Centre Park ‘n’ Ride
• Old Reynella Interchange
• Paradise Interchange
• Port Dock Interchange
• Salisbury Centre Interchange
• Salisbury Interchange
• Seaford Interchange
• Smithfield Interchange
• Tea Tree Plaza Interchange
• West Lakes Centre Interchange
• Woodville Railway Station
• Any other interchange, station or park ‘n’ ride in metropolitan Adelaide that is used by public transport services operating under the name “Adelaide Metro”.
