Victoria enacts Australia’s first ever machete ban as it cracks down on knife-related crime

Earlier this week, the Victorian Government implemented the country’s first ever ban on machetes, following a series of knife-related incidents that took place throughout the year. It is now illegal to sell, purchase, or use a machete in Victoria. There will be an amnesty period between the 1st of September to the 30th November, where individuals can dispose of their machetes anonymously at bins located at 45 stations across the state. 

“From tomorrow, machetes are banned in Victoria and anyone carrying a machete will face consequences. This is just one of the many new laws we’re implementing to back the work of Victoria Police, including Australia’s toughest bail test’.  – Anthony Carbines, Victoria’s Police Minister

Unless covered by an exemption, if found in possession of a machete, individuals can face a prison sentence of up to 2 years  or a fine of more than $47,000.

A timeline of Victoria’s reforms

Victoria’s machete ban is the government’s response to the increase in knife-crime seen across the state. 

Back in March, the Victorian government announced that they would be implementing a ban on machetes from September 1st. Since then, a series of knife-related crimes has reiterated both police and community urgency for the ban. 

Earlier in May this year, Jacina Allen implemented a ban on the sale of all machetes, following a machete-related incident in a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north. The incident involved two rival gangs, yielding machetes in the food court and left one man with serious injuries. 

“These knives destroy lives – so we’re taking them off the streets. Victorians have zero tolerance for knife crime and so do we – we’re enacting this ban and boosting Victoria’s Police power because community safety always comes first.” – Jacinta Allen, Victorian Premier

It is a long-known fact that knives are the most common weapon used in Australia. Following the sale ban of machetes, police seized a record number of illegal knives, the number which reflected an increase in 31% since 2015. Other laws aimed to decrease knife-related crime in Victoria include tightening bail tests for knife-related offences and increasing search powers for Victorian police. 

Will it work? 

But will banning machetes off Victorian streets lead to a direct drop in knife-related violence? When interviewed by the ABC, Macquarie University criminology lecturer and former NSW police detective, stated “there’s more harm to society from knives in domestic violence homicides, but that doesn’t seem to resonate with politicians”. Many experts don’t reject the notion of banning machetes, however question whether it is an absolute solution to Victoria’s knife-related crime. 

The impacts of Australia’s first ever machete ban will only show with time. For the time being, the Victorian police force and government agree that the removal of lethal weapons off the street will only promote community safety. 

Photo source: Victoria Police, State Government of Victoria 

https://www.police.vic.gov.au/machete-amnesty-and-machete-safe-disposal-bins

ABC News. (2025, May 25). Northland Shopping Centre machete attack in Melbourne was ‘retaliation’ between two gangs, police say.’ ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-25/northland-shopping-centre-knives-attack-preston-police-update/105334604 

ABC News. (2025, June 6). Record number of machetes seized in Victoria this year, police say.’ ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/victoria-police-illegal-knife-machete-record-haul/105383646 

Ashton, K. (2025, March 14). Victoria joins Queensland and NSW with tougher knife crime laws, but the impacts are still debated’. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/machete-knife-crime-victoria-explainer/105049700 

Premier of Victoria. (2025, August 31). Machete Ban Starts Tomorrow. State Government of Victoria. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/machete-ban-starts-tomorrow 

Premier of Victoria. (2025, July 31). Put Your Machete In This Bin – Or You Could Go To Jail. State Government of Victoria. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/put-your-machete-bin-or-you-could-go-jail 

Victoria State Government. (2025, September 1). Machete Ban. State Government of Victoria. https://www.vic.gov.au/machete-ban?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22809125406&gbraid=0AAAAA-j1AE06em8fLckEYVEwOJRF-VrBx&gclid=CjwKCAjwq9rFBhAIEiwAGVAZP9_XHbx84EKDM3qH53NXfClj9WshzhpF6lLddmV-az1DsB5H1cyx4hoCylgQAvD_BwE