SYDNEY, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The state government of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, announced that a new legislation would be introduced to parliament to double the maximum penalty available for certain knife crimes.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the bill will transfer the offences of having custody and wielding a knife in a public place or a school from NSW's Summary Offences Act to the Crimes Act.
The new legislation will also see a doubling of the penalties for these offences, with their maximum term of imprisonment increasing from two years to four years.
Meanwhile, the maximum fine for possession of a knife will rise from 2,200 Australian dollars (about 1,497 U.S. dollars) to 4,400 Australian dollars (about 2,994 U.S. dollars), and for wielding a knife to 11,000 Australian dollars (about 7,485 U.S. dollars).
"The tougher maximum penalty will send a strong message about the gravity of the knife-related crime," NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said.
"The government is acting to address understandable community concern given the high-profile tragic events involving knives that we have seen in NSW over the last couple of years," Daley added. ■
