Calls for tougher knife laws after mall attack

Law reform advocates are calling on the state government to introduce tougher knife laws after an incident in Launceston’s Brisbane Street Mall.

A man suffered a face wound during an argument around midday on Monday in the mall and was taken to the Launceston General Hospital.

Police are continuing to investigate and there’s been no confirmation a knife was involved in the incident.

But Laraine Ludwig, whose son was murdered in 2019 in a random knife attack at Blackmans Bay, says it’s time for Tasmania to follow other states and introduce tougher knife laws including giving police the power to carry out non-invasive searches with metal detecting wands.