New Police Search Powers and Higher Penalties for Firearm and Arson Offences
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
arson child safety criminal penalties digital evidence firearms police powers public safety unexplained wealth
Introduced by: The Hon Yasmin Catley MP (ALP); The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Rod Roberts IND
“There are a couple of points I might reiterate in debate on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026. I previously talked about the futility in raising penalties for crime. I told this House on 29 June 2023, during the second reading debate on the Criminal Legislation Amendment (Knife Crimes) Bill, that increasing penalties would have no effect at all.”
“I contribute to debate on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026. Strangely enough, I find myself agreeing with the Hon. Rod Roberts when it comes to targeting organised crime, but not by going after the money. We should not let criminals make the money in the first place. We should take away their means of production, which is prohibition.”
Tara Moriarty ALP
“Damien Tudehope, Ms Sue Higginson, the Hon. Rod Roberts and the Hon. Jeremy Buckingham. I turn to some of the matters raised in the debate. I reflect on contributions about when the Statutory Review of the 2022 Organised Crime Reforms: Statutory Review Report was tabled. I note that the review has now been tabled in Parliament.”
News articles and press releases
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026
Ms YASMIN CATLEY, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism — 2026-05-12
The bill amends the Crimes Act 1900 to enhance penalties and create new offences that target organised crime networks. Regarding public place shootings and firearms offences, schedule 4 [1] and [2] create an aggravated offence when a pistol or prohibited firearm is used to commit an offence under section 93G, with a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. The offences in section 93G capture a range of conduct that involves causing danger with a firearm or spear gun and carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. New section 93G (4) provides for an alternative verdict to be available so that if the jury is not satisfied that the accused person is guilty of the aggravated offence, it may find the accused person guilty of the simpliciter offence.