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Parents of Gold Coast stabbing victim Jack Beasley push to expand police powers

Jack Beasley was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise on Friday, December 13, 2019. (GoFundMe)

Brett and Belinda Beasley relive the pain of losing their son every time they speak about him.

But they've used that devastation to try to make Queensland safer by curbing knife violence.

"We have to do this for Jack," Mr Beasley said.

"We have to keep Jack's name alive. We don't want him to just be another statistic."

This week, new legislation expanding police powers, known as "Jack's Law", is being discussed in Queensland parliament.

Under the proposed changes officers would be allowed to use metal detection wands to search people for weapons at safe night precincts, public transport stations and in vehicles.

The Jack Beasley Foundation aims to educate school students about the dangers of violence. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)

The Beasleys will be in parliament to witness what they are calling a "historic event".

"We want to be there, as parents," Mr Beasley said.

"We've got to do that for Jack."

Mr Beasley says he wants to see the law adopted in other states if it is passed in Queensland.   

"I am planning on taking Jack's Law across Australia," he said.

"Every police officer, as far as I'm concerned, needs to have the same powers as Queensland Police will have.

"Queensland is going to be the only state in the country to have these laws, if they are passed."  

Mr Beasley says he and his wife are doing their best to try and keep young people safe. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)

'So many memories'

Jack died after he was stabbed on the Gold Coast in 2019.

He was 17 years old.

"Every time we run these stories it brings back so many memories," Mr Beasley said.

"Not only for our family, but for all Jack's friends as well.

"We've got to struggle through, and that's what we do."

After Jack died, his parents campaigned for a wanding trial in Gold Coast's safe night precinct.

The trial has been underway in Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise since 2021.

The couple also set up the Jack Beasley Foundation to deliver presentations in Queensland schools about the dangers of knife violence.

"We do it with the Queensland Police Service — the program's called 'I live my life without a knife,'" Mr Beasley said.

"It's as simple as that.

"We just want to play our part in keeping kids safe."

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