It is now illegal to own a machete in Victoria, with the state government introducing a Victoria-wide ban that classifies the knives as a “prohibited weapon.” The new legislation follows a series of violent incidents involving machetes.
Under the law, anyone caught owning, carrying, using, buying, or selling a machete without exemption faces penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of $47,000.
Exemptions apply to individuals who require machetes for legitimate work purposes, such as in agriculture, or where the knives hold traditional, historical, or cultural significance. A machete is defined under the ban as a “large broad-bladed cutting knife,” though shapes and sizes vary.
An amnesty period has been introduced to allow machete owners to surrender the weapons safely. Until November 30, disposal bins will be available outside 40 police stations across Victoria.
“From tomorrow, machetes are banned in Victoria and anyone carrying a machete will face tough consequences,” Police Minister Anthony Carbines said. He urged residents to hand in any machetes they may have at home, noting the measure is part of a broader crackdown on violent crime that also includes Australia’s toughest bail test.
The state had already restricted machete sales with a temporary ban in May, supported by in-store and online inspections to dry up supply.
Despite the move, some Victorians say the measures come too late. Woolworths employee Aarkin Shah, 25, was stabbed while riding his e-scooter home in Carnegie. “Whenever I look at myself in the mirror with the scar, I fear so much from the person who stabbed me,” he told 9News. “It’s really scary to live in Melbourne now. In Australia.”
Across the country, knife laws differ by state and territory. While machetes are classified as controlled weapons elsewhere and may be used with a lawful purpose, Victoria is the first state to impose a total ban.
