City of Moreton Bay has welcomed the passing of new anti-copper theft laws following its advocacy for the legislative change.
The Council says the legislation delivers long-awaited reforms to help protect sporting clubs, improve community safety and disrupt the illegal scrap metal trade.
“For too long, copper theft has left sporting clubs, parks and public spaces without essential lighting, creating safety concerns for our community,” said Mayor, Peter Flannery.
“These new laws will help protect the infrastructure that our sporting clubs rely on and improve safety for residents by reducing the risk of streets, pathways and community facilities being plunged into darkness.”
The Mayor said that for more than three years, Council had been front and centre of the push for new laws to crack down on copper theft.
At the LGAQ annual conference in 2023, Queensland’s 76 other Councils joined City of Moreton Bay’s call for action.
The Council’s efforts were acknowledged in Parliament as the Bill passed, with Minister Andrew Powell commending the organisation for its strong call for action to ensure that copper theft is stamped out.
Under the Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, there will now be increased penalties for metal theft. There will also be two new offences for attempted metal theft and possession of a prescribed metal item reasonably suspected of being stolen.
All transactions involving scrap metal will also be recorded in a transaction register.
The Secondhand Dealers Act will also include a definition of ‘scrap metal’ and impose additional photographic identity verification requirements on second-hand dealers transacting in scrap metal.
“We thank the State Government for delivering these reforms, which will help protect community infrastructure, support local sporting clubs and improve safety across our region. Since 2021, copper theft has cost City of Moreton Bay more than $500,000 in repairs alone,” Mayor Flannery said.
