Act now to rid scourge of copper theft
Published 04 October 2024
City of Moreton Bay today repeated calls for a commitment to a “no cash for scrap” scheme, putting a stop to rampant copper theft that is impacting local sporting clubs and communities.
Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway said the Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act needs to be urgently amended to bring Queensland in line with other states, and candidates contesting the State election need to publicly get on board.
“The LNP committed, that if elected, they will implement new laws to ban the sale of scrap metal to unlicensed dealers, however this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously by all candidates.
“I feel like a broken record, but City of Moreton Bay will continue to speak out about copper theft and the financial and safety issues it poses until the legislation is changed.
“It was City of Moreton Bay’s call for action, backed by the Local Government Association of Queensland, that prompted the July 2023 Inquiry into scrap metal theft.
“It has been disappointing to see the Government continue to drag their feet on this issue, as reflected in their response to the parliamentary inquiry released on 29 May 2024, which includes a commitment to merely “investigating legislative reforms”.
“It was the Committee’s task to ‘investigate’; now it’s time to act.
“We are not asking for an election handout – in fact this costs nothing and will actually save the Government money and potentially save lives.
“Energex has noted that copper crime on Queensland's electricity network has tripled since 2020, with almost 400 incidents last year alone and repair bills mounting to more than $4.5 million a year, so this an expensive issue.
“Copper theft is an urgent problem. In City of Moreton Bay alone we have seen a spike in illegal copper theft from new housing estates, powerlines, train stations and local sporting clubs.
“Presently, there is no requirement under the Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003 to require sellers to pay via electronic transaction.
“It’s ludicrous; we need proper accounting and records in Queensland that police can follow-up to track criminals down. Essentially this legislative oversight has enabled a black market, and we need to close that loophole immediately.
“Queensland is the only state on the eastern seaboard that does not have these measures in place.
“Under the Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003 thieves can take stolen copper to a pawn broker without proof of ID, receive a cash payment, and just walk away.
“A legislative solution that effectively ends the resale market for stolen copper immediately will be much more effective than any amount of CCTV, deterrent devices or stretching the resources of police, Energex and councils even further.
“Copper theft is also a genuine public safety risk, both for those illegally stealing the copper, as well as our local community, including children who use our sporting fields regularly to stay healthy and active.
“My concern is for the safety of our community and reliability of power to their homes. It’s also a major safety concern for the state-wide energy network in terms of powering people’s homes and lighting our streets to keep people safe.
“I am also concerned about the extra expense to our ratepayers, who ultimately foot the bill for replacing freshly laid copper wire.
“Council itself has incurred more than $300,000 of repairs due to copper theft.
“We will continue to work closely with police and urge people to report suspicious activity, especially around sporting fields and construction sites.
“Frankly, this situation cannot go on. If we can end the problem with the stroke of a pen by simply updating legislation, that we have seen works in other states, then let’s get that done.
“We have made this issue one of our city-wide priorities for the state election and are pushing for a commitment from all candidates to legislate a “no cash for scrap” scheme, like that in operation in New South Wales, early in the next term of government,” Acting Mayor Shipway said.