Weapons, drugs and vapes are being uncovered in Queensland state schools more than 20 times a day, with primary school students among those caught with dangerous items.
Incidents by the numbers
Exclusive data obtained by 7NEWS reveals there were 828 incidents involving weapons in Queensland state schools last year, including 264 cases in primary schools. The figures expose the growing challenge facing schools across the state, with students found carrying items ranging from knives and replica guns to scissors, sporting bats and rocks.
Regional hotspots
The highest number of weapon-related incidents was recorded in the Metro South education region, which covers areas including Ipswich, the Redlands and parts of the Lockyer Valley, with 191 reported cases. The alarming statistics also reveal 1405 incidents involving illegal drugs across Queensland state schools in 2025, alongside another 1953 cases involving tobacco, alcohol and vapes.
Seized items
Exclusive 7NEWS data reveals ammunition, knives and homemade weapons seized from Queensland state schools. A knife was allegedly seized from a school as new figures expose the scale of weapons incidents across the state. Authorities seized a range of dangerous items from Queensland schools, including ammunition, blades and baseball bats.
Government response
Speaking on Friday, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek rejected suggestions metal detectors could be introduced in problem schools, saying Queensland was not facing the same issues seen overseas. “I don’t support us becoming something like Australians and Queenslanders have seen in America,” he said. “Where they have that type of situation. I don’t believe it’s warranted here.”
The Education Minister said the government remained committed to a “zero tolerance” approach towards dangerous behaviour in schools in a bid to further reduce the numbers. Under Queensland Education Department policy, a weapon can include any item capable of causing harm, even if it was not originally designed as a weapon.
Daily averages
The data shows Queensland state schools recorded, on average, more than two weapon incidents every day last year, alongside almost four drug-related incidents and more than five involving vapes, alcohol or tobacco. Despite the alarming figures, weapon-related incidents have fallen 12 per cent since 2023, while drug-related incidents dropped by 55 per cent over the same period.
