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Wand Use Questioned After Stabbing Death
A fatal stabbing near Salamanca Place has reignited debate over Tasmania’s knife-detection laws, with the mother of a knife crime victim demanding answers about whether police are using metal-detecting wands as intended. A 20-year-old man died and another was injured after an altercation between two groups in a Morrison Street carpark just before midnight on Saturday.
Independent MLC Bec Thomas has called for urgent action, criticising the Government for failing to roll out detection wands four months after Reid’s Law passed Parliament.
Sunday, 26 October 2025
QUESTIONS OVER KNIFE-DETECTING WANDS FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT’S STABBING IN HOBART
Knife crime reform advocate Laraine Ludwig has today questioned whether Tasmanian police have been using metal-detecting wands to help prevent knife attacks following the fatal stabbing at Hobart’s waterfront overnight.
A 20-year-old man died and another was injured after being stabbed during a confrontation near Salamanca Place just after midnight.
Ludwig’s son Reid was killed in a knife attack in 2019. Today would have been Reid’s birthday and she is angry that more hasn’t been done to prevent further tragedies.
“People are asking me today, weren’t the wands meant to act as a deterrent from carrying knives?” Ludwig said.
Reid’s law, which gives police the power to use knife-detecting wands, was passed in May this year after four years of lobbying the government by Laraine and community supporters.
“We were told police would be using wands routinely at known hot spots like Salamanca and the docks. If that’s not happening, we deserve to know why.”
Ludwig said it was vital for the Government and Tasmania Police to answer the following questions:
How many metal-detecting wands are currently available statewide?
Was wanding conducted at Salamanca over the weekend?
Is there a routine roster or policy for using them in nightlife and entertainment precincts?
“It’s been six years since my son was killed. Since then, we’ve seen further knife attacks and deaths and still we’re waiting for the Government and the police to respond,” Ludwig said.
“If police have the powers and the tools, they need to use them. And if they don’t, then this Government must explain why not.
“We need to do everything we can to stop knife crime and it’s time for the Government to act rather than gaslight the community.”
Media release – Tasmania Police, 27 October 2025
17-year-old charged with murder, wounding and assault
A 17-year-old male will appear in the Youth Justice Court tomorrow charged with murder, wounding and assault in relation to an incident in the Salamanca area over the weekend.
Emergency services were called to the Morrison Street car park about 23.45 on Saturday night, following reports of an altercation between two groups of people.
Tragically a 20-year-old man died as a result of injuries sustained in the incident, and a 23-year-old man remains in the Royal Hobart Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing, and police would like to speak to anyone who has information and hasn’t already spoken to investigators.
Media release – Tasmania Police, 26 October 2025
Police investigations ongoing into murder and wounding incident at Salamanca
Police are continuing to investigate a murder and wounding incident in the Salamanca area last night.
Emergency services were called to the Morrison Street carpark about 23:45, following reports of an altercation between two groups of people.
As a result of the incident, a 20-year-old man died early this morning as a result of his injuries.
A 23-year-old man remains in the Royal Hobart Hospital with non-life-threatening stab wounds.
Today police have charged a 20-year-old man with assault in relation to the incident.
A second person – a 17-year-old male – is in custody assisting police with their enquires.
“This is a devastating incident, that should never have occurred,” said Detective Acting Inspector Rick Newman.
“Police are committed to thoroughly investigating the matter and charging those responsible.”
“Everyone has the right to be safe in our public spaces, and violent crimes will not be tolerated in our communities.”
“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the young man who died, as well as the young man who remains in hospital, and their friends who witnessed this tragic incident.”
At this stage in the investigation, it is believed this was not a random incident, and a person from each group was known to each other.
BACKGROUND: Reid’s Law
Legislation was introduced to Parliament in March 2025, giving police the power to use handheld scanners on a person in a public place if they have reasonable grounds to suspect the person is carrying a weapon or knife. Officers can also conduct wanding in prescribed public places where knife crime is most likely, including bus malls, shopping centres, government facilities, public transport and taxi ranks.
The legislation also doubled maximum fines from $10,100 to $20,200 and increased maximum prison sentences from two to three years for illegally carrying or using dangerous articles in public.
Reid’s Law passed the Tasmanian Parliament in May 2025, with the government committing to a permanent rollout of metal detection wands as part of a $1.7 billion investment into police in the 2025-26 Budget.
The law honours Reid Ludwig, a 41-year-old father of two who was stabbed to death at a Blackmans Bay service station in 2019. His mother, Laraine Ludwig, campaigned for four years alongside the Jack Beasley Foundation to secure the legislation.
Following her son’s death, Laraine Ludwig, along with the Jack Beasley Foundation from Queensland, campaigned for tougher knife laws in Tasmania. The Jack Beasley Foundation was established after Jack Beasley died in a stabbing on the Gold Coast in 2019, leading to Queensland’s “Jack’s Law” which gives police similar wanding powers.<
Media release – Bec Thomas MLC, independent member for Elwick, 27 October 2025
THOMAS CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION ON VIOLENT YOUTH CRIME FOLLOWING SALAMANCA TRAGEDY
My thoughts are with the family, friends and everyone affected by the tragic death of a young man at Salamanca over the weekend, allegedly following an incident of violence involving a knife.
It is deeply disappointing that, four months after Parliament passed new laws to give Tasmania Police search wand powers to keep our community safe, those laws have still not translated into action on the ground.
Even more disappointing is the Government’s decision to play the blame game, rather than take responsibility for its failure to deliver on its commitment to respond to the increasing presentation of violence and knives.
If this Government were truly serious about community safety, it would have re-prioritised its resources following the failed budget and found the savings required to purchase and roll out detection wands – this would have shown it is serious about getting knives off our streets and preventing knife crime. This is what it ought to do right now.
How many so-called “isolated incidents” of violent crime will it take before we stop calling them isolated? Since April, there have been at least 14 reported incidents of violence involving young people across greater Hobart. Incidents that have lifelong physical and psychological impacts on innocent people, as I know from speaking with some of the victims and their families.
Victims of these incidents, and I, feared it would take a tragedy like this before the Government finally took the issue seriously, but will it, even now?
If the Government were serious about keeping Tasmanians safe, it would commit to a comprehensive plan to address youth offending, rather than cherry-picking populist policies and blaming others when it fails to deliver even those.
Because this issue is broader than knife crime. It is about violent crime and our youth justice system that continues to fail both young people and the wider community.
That is why, back in May, I proposed a ten- point plan to Government outlining a multi-pronged approach to tackling these issues.
Hurt people hurt people, so I know we must address this from every angle – supporting prevention and rehabilitation, yes, but not at the expense of community safety. We need urgent, meaningful action – a comprehensive plan to address youth offending, including a review of the Youth Justice Act and bail laws. Sentencing outcomes must meet community expectations, and the rights of victims and the community to feel safe must come first.
When Parliament resumes next week, I will again seek a response from the Government to the questions I placed on the Notice Paper in September about youth offending and the idea of a ten-point plan to address it (see over page). Tasmanians deserve answers and action.
Question on Notice – Legislative Council, 23 September 2025
(1) Will the Government develop a Plan to Address Youth Offending, with consideration to including the following elements:
(a) Commitment to a proactive Tasmania Police presence on the beat in Glenorchy, Claremont and Moonah;
(b) Urgent legislative change to provide security guards with more powers to intervene in antisocial behaviour and training to support the use of their powers;
(c) Increased investment in surveillance technology including a central CCTV monitoring system and 24/7 security monitoring and control room for Greater Hobart, to respond to crime or emerging events in a timely manner;
(d) A review of sentencing and diversion program outcomes under the Youth Justice Act 1997 to evaluate whether they are meeting the needs and expectations of the community, victims and young people;
(e) A review of youth bail laws, with reference to section 24C of the Youth Justice Act 1997;
(f) Legislation providing for workplace protection orders, as it is reported by business owners that ban notices are not an effective deterrent;
(g) Minimum packaging standards for knives and other sharp objects and a ban on the importation of knives and sharp objects by minors;
(h) Case study research into the 30 youth offenders with 50 or more police charges in 2024
– to properly define the problem, to identify the specific social and systemic factors contributing to recidivism;
(i) Increased investment in early intervention programs to address generational disadvantage and stop youth offending before it starts, and the reintroduction of interagency support teams; and
(j) A review of the Tier 4 schooling system and the exploration of parental responsibility contracts.
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