And as you've heard, Coals will stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one of their employees. This is in a southeast Queensland supermarket. Basically they came out and they said that we're doing the right thing. We'll do a full investigation, but as of now Coals right across the country no kitchen knives available. Is it the right thing to do? Will at work? Craig Cortcott is the co chair of the Criminal Law Committee. He joins me this morning. Craig, thanks so much for your time, Good morning. Has Coal's done the right thing? Well?

And as you've heard, Coals will stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one of their employees. This is in a southeast Queensland supermarket. Basically they came out and they said that we're doing the right thing. We'll do a full investigation, but as of now Coals right across the country no kitchen knives available. Is it the right thing to do? Will at work? Craig Cortcott is the co chair of the Criminal Law Committee. He joins me this morning. Craig, thanks so much for your time, Good morning. Has Coal's done the right thing? Well?

I think that it's nearly going to be impossible to a police or control it. We all know that we've got literally hundreds of knives and family homes and it seemed to me that it's going to be more onerous and won't be able to stop people obtaining knives. I think that it's just a knee jerk reaction and what they should be doing is better policing in terms of people carrying knives.

I think that it's nearly going to be impossible to a police or control it. We all know that we've got literally hundreds of knives and family homes and it seemed to me that it's going to be more onerous and won't be able to stop people obtaining knives. I think that it's just a knee jerk reaction and what they should be doing is better policing in terms of people carrying knives.

It's understood Craig that Woolworst won't follow Coals in this. It kind of seems pointless, doesn't it. If you've got in many cases in a shopping center, you'll have two supermarkets. If you can't buy the knives from one store, you just go next door.

It's understood Craig that Woolworst won't follow Coals in this. It kind of seems pointless, doesn't it. If you've got in many cases in a shopping center, you'll have two supermarkets. If you can't buy the knives from one store, you just go next door.

It's exactly right. And if you can't get them from there, you'll possibly get your old above and sister to go and get them, or you just obtain knives from other locations, or you can obtain things like standing knives from Bunnings and m to ten or in some instances, i've seen screwdrivers being used as weapons. We're going to stop selling screwdrivers at these various locations. I think a far better way to do it is to have better policing so that people don't carry knives into public areas when they don't need to. It's covered by the effen summary offenses, that word that they shouldn't have knives.

It's exactly right. And if you can't get them from there, you'll possibly get your old above and sister to go and get them, or you just obtain knives from other locations, or you can obtain things like standing knives from Bunnings and m to ten or in some instances, i've seen screwdrivers being used as weapons. We're going to stop selling screwdrivers at these various locations. I think a far better way to do it is to have better policing so that people don't carry knives into public areas when they don't need to. It's covered by the effen summary offenses, that word that they shouldn't have knives.

Yeah, I understand why Coles are doing it. They need to be seen to be doing something. Sadly, one of their staff members has been injured, which is just horrific out of an abundance of caution, and they're saying they're conducting this review. But you're so right, Craig, there's Swiss army knives. You can go into a newsagent or an Australia Post. You probably get a letter opener, which is the best part of a knife. So I understand it just seems like a band aid measure that just won't work.

Yeah, I understand why Coles are doing it. They need to be seen to be doing something. Sadly, one of their staff members has been injured, which is just horrific out of an abundance of caution, and they're saying they're conducting this review. But you're so right, Craig, there's Swiss army knives. You can go into a newsagent or an Australia Post. You probably get a letter opener, which is the best part of a knife. So I understand it just seems like a band aid measure that just won't work.

That's exactly right, because it's different. But they say it quotes with the poliefing of spray cans. But that's different because one that's basically came into being in over the last twenty years, and it's in separate areas, and they can be policing steak knives, kitchen knives are all over the place. If you're buying your family a sort of cutlery for the Christmas present, how's that going to be policed? It can't be.

That's exactly right, because it's different. But they say it quotes with the poliefing of spray cans. But that's different because one that's basically came into being in over the last twenty years, and it's in separate areas, and they can be policing steak knives, kitchen knives are all over the place. If you're buying your family a sort of cutlery for the Christmas present, how's that going to be policed? It can't be.

It's a great point. Do you think it's there's an onus on the supermarkets to do more for security too? Are we getting to that point? You live this day in day out. I'm sure you're seeing a lot of juvenile defenders and people that are going up for these kind of cases. Do we need security guards at supermarkets? Do we need supermarkets to do more from that point of view, or is this a policing issue.

It's a great point. Do you think it's there's an onus on the supermarkets to do more for security too? Are we getting to that point? You live this day in day out. I'm sure you're seeing a lot of juvenile defenders and people that are going up for these kind of cases. Do we need security guards at supermarkets? Do we need supermarkets to do more from that point of view, or is this a policing issue.

I think that it's a policing issue because we're talking about in public areas where people are taking knives with them. The difficulty is if they've got knives on them in those public areas, that what have they got them for? Either to defend themselves or to attack someone. There is no rhyme or reason for them to have knives in public areas, saying, except if you're a tradee or you're going about your lawful business and you need it for your trade.

I think that it's a policing issue because we're talking about in public areas where people are taking knives with them. The difficulty is if they've got knives on them in those public areas, that what have they got them for? Either to defend themselves or to attack someone. There is no rhyme or reason for them to have knives in public areas, saying, except if you're a tradee or you're going about your lawful business and you need it for your trade.

You've been a lawyer for a long time. It feels like there's an over abundance now of criminals that are in a younger age bracket. Craig. Has that always been the case or is it because there's more publicity, more media about it now.

You've been a lawyer for a long time. It feels like there's an over abundance now of criminals that are in a younger age bracket. Craig. Has that always been the case or is it because there's more publicity, more media about it now.

I think it's a combination of both. The difficult in the possibly the older days, which I remember very well Yaks is use of steel cars, get up to mistic, drink alcohol and run a mark. These days they seem to go about being armed, and that's the area that is most concerning, and the level of if a person gets into a fight, while it can be significant, it doesn't usually lead to death, whereas if people are armed with knives, then there's a real possibility of death or very very serious harm. I've got to stop them being in possession of it.

I think it's a combination of both. The difficult in the possibly the older days, which I remember very well Yaks is use of steel cars, get up to mistic, drink alcohol and run a mark. These days they seem to go about being armed, and that's the area that is most concerning, and the level of if a person gets into a fight, while it can be significant, it doesn't usually lead to death, whereas if people are armed with knives, then there's a real possibility of death or very very serious harm. I've got to stop them being in possession of it.

Of course, I was reading about the Queensland Premier obviously unhappy with this situation and trying to get a handle on it. But Queensland, am I right, is one of the only jurisdictions in the democratic world who imposes adult penalties on children. And if so, is that something you think might be looked at across Australia.

Of course, I was reading about the Queensland Premier obviously unhappy with this situation and trying to get a handle on it. But Queensland, am I right, is one of the only jurisdictions in the democratic world who imposes adult penalties on children. And if so, is that something you think might be looked at across Australia.

Well, no, because I actually think that that's a little bit of a need jerk reaction to what is happening in Queensland. What I think is there what they're missing out is that there should be rehabilitation or work done at the front end so that they don't commit the crime in the first place. Here in South Australia, if a youth is charged with murder then they're dealt with as an adult and in some instances, if the crime is serious enough, they are transferred to the district court to be dealt with as an adult. So it does happen here, But the rule difficult it is that they need to do more work in terms of stopping it.

Well, no, because I actually think that that's a little bit of a need jerk reaction to what is happening in Queensland. What I think is there what they're missing out is that there should be rehabilitation or work done at the front end so that they don't commit the crime in the first place. Here in South Australia, if a youth is charged with murder then they're dealt with as an adult and in some instances, if the crime is serious enough, they are transferred to the district court to be dealt with as an adult. So it does happen here, But the rule difficult it is that they need to do more work in terms of stopping it.

In the first place, you would gauge the temperature though, I mean people that call the radio station Craig, people that you speak to the disconnect between the general public, I think, and the judiciary, where people think that a lot of these people, whether it's bail conditions or the actual sentencing that happens, people in the general public, I think, by and by don't think that they're strong enough.

In the first place, you would gauge the temperature though, I mean people that call the radio station Craig, people that you speak to the disconnect between the general public, I think, and the judiciary, where people think that a lot of these people, whether it's bail conditions or the actual sentencing that happens, people in the general public, I think, by and by don't think that they're strong enough.

Yeah, well, there's a wide range of penalties available to the judiciary. The differently is the public don't get to hear both sides of the story. They don't receive all of the information, and it would be at the end of the day judges doing a very very difficult job trying to work out what is the appropriate penalty having regard to everything. When it a matter of first happens, it's in the media and there's outcry, etc. But by the time the matter actually gets the court, we hear a lot of the other side of the story about what has happened, what has occurred. We also hear things about what rehabilitation steps the person has undertaken. So it's a difficult matter. I would encourage people to actually go into the courts and actually see what happens on a day to day basis in the court system.

Yeah, well, there's a wide range of penalties available to the judiciary. The differently is the public don't get to hear both sides of the story. They don't receive all of the information, and it would be at the end of the day judges doing a very very difficult job trying to work out what is the appropriate penalty having regard to everything. When it a matter of first happens, it's in the media and there's outcry, etc. But by the time the matter actually gets the court, we hear a lot of the other side of the story about what has happened, what has occurred. We also hear things about what rehabilitation steps the person has undertaken. So it's a difficult matter. I would encourage people to actually go into the courts and actually see what happens on a day to day basis in the court system.

The other knock that we hear Craig is that we don't have enough prisons, we don't have enough cells available for people, and that could be Does that play any way, shape or form into when sentencings occurs. Do you think that we just don't have the room?

The other knock that we hear Craig is that we don't have enough prisons, we don't have enough cells available for people, and that could be Does that play any way, shape or form into when sentencings occurs. Do you think that we just don't have the room?

Well, in my experience, we are do have the room, and they constantly are building new presents to do that. What we should be looking at is what's happening overseas in Holland and other places that they're reducing the prison population and saving an enormous amount of money and doing it. In Holland they reduced the prison population of forty percent and they're in fact now renting out some of their prisons to Norway. They're here in Australia and in the United States and a greater extent in the United Kingdom. Will just continue to build prisons, which costs the taxpayer one hundred and forty seven thousand dollars a year to keep them there.

Well, in my experience, we are do have the room, and they constantly are building new presents to do that. What we should be looking at is what's happening overseas in Holland and other places that they're reducing the prison population and saving an enormous amount of money and doing it. In Holland they reduced the prison population of forty percent and they're in fact now renting out some of their prisons to Norway. They're here in Australia and in the United States and a greater extent in the United Kingdom. Will just continue to build prisons, which costs the taxpayer one hundred and forty seven thousand dollars a year to keep them there.

So I guess the recommend stake them. Have they found that their crime rights have gone down in Holland?

So I guess the recommend stake them. Have they found that their crime rights have gone down in Holland?

Yeah, they have. That's the reason why the prison population has fallen. And we're trying to do a bit of work with them, trying to get the information as to how they do it. We've got two hundred and six million dollars sitting in the Victim of Crime fund. Well for the world. They can't work out why we wouldn't be using some of those funds to support the police, support the court system imposed or implement greater reforms and rehabilitation and give more money to victim I'll be the first one to say that they deserve more and the money sitting there.

Yeah, they have. That's the reason why the prison population has fallen. And we're trying to do a bit of work with them, trying to get the information as to how they do it. We've got two hundred and six million dollars sitting in the Victim of Crime fund. Well for the world. They can't work out why we wouldn't be using some of those funds to support the police, support the court system imposed or implement greater reforms and rehabilitation and give more money to victim I'll be the first one to say that they deserve more and the money sitting there.

Appreciate your time this morning, Craig. So just in closing, I guess you think Coles will They'll look at this situation and maybe common sense will prevail and they'll still continue to sell knives, albeit after they've done their review.

Appreciate your time this morning, Craig. So just in closing, I guess you think Coles will They'll look at this situation and maybe common sense will prevail and they'll still continue to sell knives, albeit after they've done their review.

Yeah. I believe that would be the case because I don't know where you've been in the Coles recently, but you go in there and you'll see set the cutlery knives or steak knives, carving knives, et cetera. And they are just utensive which they use every single day. But they've got to be seen to be doing something, and that's what has happened.

Yeah. I believe that would be the case because I don't know where you've been in the Coles recently, but you go in there and you'll see set the cutlery knives or steak knives, carving knives, et cetera. And they are just utensive which they use every single day. But they've got to be seen to be doing something, and that's what has happened.

Yeah, appreciate your time. Thanks so much for the inside, Craig or the best, No, thanks Craig Quartercott is the co chair of the Criminal Law Committee. Also Craig Quartercott Lawyers, answering our questions. So Coles for the moment stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one of their employees. The good news is that Claudia what is in hospital. Yes, in a critical but a stable condition, so fingers crossed Claudia is able to pull through. The thirteen year old boy who stabbed her has been charged with attempted murder. Your thoughts eight double two to three double O, double O. Will it work? Would you like other supermarkets and other businesses to follow suit? You can have your say, call, text, email. We'll get to those next

Yeah, appreciate your time. Thanks so much for the inside, Craig or the best, No, thanks Craig Quartercott is the co chair of the Criminal Law Committee. Also Craig Quartercott Lawyers, answering our questions. So Coles for the moment stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one of their employees. The good news is that Claudia what is in hospital. Yes, in a critical but a stable condition, so fingers crossed Claudia is able to pull through. The thirteen year old boy who stabbed her has been charged with attempted murder. Your thoughts eight double two to three double O, double O. Will it work? Would you like other supermarkets and other businesses to follow suit? You can have your say, call, text, email. We'll get to those next