Queensland police’s warrant-less weapon scans spark concerns over Indigenous over-representation
Queensland police have used expanded warrant-less search powers to scan more than 160,000 individuals, with 11% identifying as First Nations, prompting criticism from Indigenous advocates.
Since the permanent extension of Jack’s Law in June last year, Queensland police have been authorised to conduct warrant-less weapon searches in public places and designated locations such as shopping centres and train stations. In the period from 18 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, they performed 160,997 scans, resulting in 1,270 weapons being recovered and 2,497 people charged with nearly 5,000 offences. Of those scanned, 17,909 (11%) identified as First Nations, a proportion far above their 4.6% share of the state’s population.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service principal legal officer Greg Shadbolt and National Justice Project chief executive George Newhouse expressed concern that the data reflect possible bias and over-representation in the criminal-justice system. Police officials said the searches are intelligence-led and based on operational risk assessments, not ethnicity. Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie affirmed the government’s commitment to the law, citing community safety. Academics such as Griffith University criminologist Nadine Connell noted that self-identification data are imperfect but highlighted the need to monitor unrecognised biases.
Why it matters
The data raise questions about fairness and potential bias in policing powers that affect Indigenous communities.
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