The Allan Labor Government will ban machetes.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Police Anthony Carbines joined Acting Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Rick Nugent to announce Australia's first-ever machete ban, plus a huge expansion of knife-search powers.
Australia's first machete ban
A record number of knives were seized from Victorian streets in 2024. More must be done to keep people safe. That's why the Control of Weapons Act will be amended to prohibit the sale or possession of machetes.
Under the change, machetes will be classified as a prohibited weapon from 1 September 2025.
The UK recently led a similar reform. It took them 18 months. Victoria will do it in six months.
There will be exemptions. If people wish to get a machete for an allowed purpose such as agriculture or hunting, they will need to apply for an exemption. Government will consult with industry on the exemptions framework.
To get these weapons off the streets safely, an amnesty will run from 1 September to 30 November 2025. During that time, people will be able to safely dispose of their knives without committing a crime.
They will be able to do this using secure bins in safe locations, which are likely to include an outdoor area at select police stations. These bins will start opening on 1 September.
Machetes can be broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres. Government will consult with industry on this definition before the ban starts, with kitchen knives not intended to be included.
Prohibited weapons are the most strictly regulated in Victoria. They are not controlled weapons - they are banned weapons. Penalties of 2 years imprisonment or a fine of over $47,000 for being caught in possession will apply.
To get the ball rolling, the Premier today is calling on major retailers to stop placing stock orders for machetes, now.
Victoria will also write to the Federal Government about action on machete imports at the border and exploring a national ban on machetes.
Huge expansion of random knife search powers
The Government will amend the Terrorism(Community Protection) and Control of Weapons Amendment Bill, which is currently before the Victorian Parliament, to allow for police to search an area for weapons for longer.
Currently, the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police can declare a location like a train station or a shopping centre a designated search area, so police can search people for weapons (like knives) without a warrant and seize items.
But a place can only be declared a designated search area for 12 hours at a time, which is hampering police efforts.
The Government will change the law to allow the Chief Commissioner to declare a location a designated search area for up to six months, instead of 12 hours.
This allows police to act on intelligence about potential violence and weapons for much longer - and it gives people confidence that police will have the powers they need, when they need them, in the busy places they meet, commute, shop and spend time.
Tougher bail for knife crime
These extra powers build on Victoria's Tough Bail Laws, which will target repeat high-risk offenders, jolt the system, and deliver consequences for breaking the rules.
Under the Tough Bail Laws, there will be tougher bail tests for many serious and high-risk offences.
The Government can confirm these offences will include the following knife crimes: committing an offence involving controlled weapons (including machete violence), prohibited weapons offences, and offensive weapons offences.
This includes the use of every day implements fashioned into or used as weapons, such as baseball bats, kitchen knives and shivs.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"Machetes are destroying lives so we will destroy machetes. The places we meet can't become the places we fear."
"I am listening and I am acting, with Australia's toughest bail laws and Australia's first machete ban."
"Under my Government, community safety comes first and there are consequences for breaking the rules."
As stated by Minister for Police Anthony Carbines
"This is Australia's first machete ban, and we agree with police that it must be done once and done right. It took the UK 18 months - we can do it in six."
"We'll always give police what they need to keep Victorians safe - we'll build on the extra powers we've already given them and help them search for more weapons."
