The state of Victoria has rolled out machete disposal bins forward of a ban on the instruments amid rising violent crime
Australians have been ordered to give up their machetes or withstand two years in jail and fines exceeding $30,000 below a brand new weapons ban in Victoria. The state’s authorities adopted the measure in an effort reverse a surge in violent crime.
Victoria has introduced an entire ban on the possession, sale, and use of machetes, set to return into impact on September 1. Residents have been given a three-month amnesty interval to conform, with officers warning that after November 30, having a machete with out an exemption will likely be a felony offence.
In an announcement on Thursday, Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines mentioned that greater than 40 disposal bins had been put in throughout Victoria, together with exterior police stations in areas with excessive charges of violent incidents.
Agricultural staff and people claiming conventional or cultural use will likely be allowed to maintain machetes however should show eligibility to police if requested.
The brand new restrictions observe an increase in what officers have described as gang-related youth crime. Victoria Police reported seizing a median of 44 unlawful blades a day in 2025. Based on authorities figures, assaults with edged weapons at purchasing facilities have risen by 161% since 2014.
Youths aged 10 to 17 are mentioned to make up 13% of offenders total, whereas accounting for 63% of robberies, 46% of aggravated burglaries, and greater than 1 / 4 of all automobile thefts.
The brand new coverage has drawn mockery and criticism from some residents, who’ve questioned the effectiveness of machete drop containers. Social media customers have argued the federal government is avoiding the underlying causes of the crime spike, pointing to rising issues over migration and exercise by armed African youth gangs in Melbourne. Victoria Premier Allan has repeatedly lauded the state’s variety and multiculturalism.
An analogous ban on “ninja swords” was lately launched within the UK, which has confronted comparable criticism for failing to sort out the underlying drivers of rising knife violence, similar to uncontrolled migration.
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