The sale of machetes will be banned in Victoria from Wednesday.
The state government announced on Monday, May 26, that the dangerous knives are coming off retail shelves now to dry up the machete market ahead of a legislated ban on machete possession coming into effect on September 1.
The interim sale ban on May 28 will mark Australia’s first total ban on machete sales.
Commonwealth consumer law allows a state minister for consumer affairs to introduce an interim ban on the sale of certain consumer goods for a time-limited period.
Using these powers, Victoria will ban the sale of machetes from 12pm on Wednesday.
The interim machete sale ban will expire when it is superseded by the legislated prohibition on the sale and possession of machetes that will come into effect on September 1.
When the interim sale ban is declared on Wednesday, a supplier – for example, a retailer – must not supply the banned item for sale or possess them with the intent to sell during the banned period.
The interim sale ban will cover machetes, which are broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres.
The interim sale ban does not include knives primarily used in kitchens.
Premier Jacinta Allan said that she “hates these knives.”
“I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives,” Ms Allan said.
“In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,” she said.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the community “shouldn’t have to deal with these weapons in their shopping centres,” and “neither should our police.”
A supplier who fails to comply with the ban may be found guilty of a criminal offence.
This is the toughest ban on the sale of machetes that has ever been attempted in Australia.
There will be no exemptions to allow the sale of machetes during the interim sale ban – Australian consumer law does not allow it.
This means some consumers who will be entitled to possess a machete with an exemption when machetes are prohibited will be denied the ability to buy them at all during the interim sale ban.
A government spokesperson said it acknowledges this will affect some legitimate users but said it is still proceeding with the interim sale ban to put community safety above all.
Retailers are advised to store excess stock in a safe location until the disposal, with amnesty and exemption schemes for banned machetes starting alongside the prohibition coming into force on September 1.
Premier Jacinta Allan called retailers to immediately stop placing orders on machete stock on March 13 this year.
The Control of Weapons Act was amended on March 19 to prohibit the sale or possession of machetes.
Machetes will be classified as a prohibited weapon from September 1.
There will be exemptions – if people wish to get a machete for an allowed purpose such as agriculture, they will need to apply for an exemption.
The government is consulting 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.
There will be secure bins in safe locations at outdoor areas at select police stations, with these bins starting to open from September 1.
Machetes can be broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres.
Prohibited weapons are the most strictly regulated in Victoria, as they are not controlled – they are banned.
Penalties of two years imprisonment or a fine of over $47,000 for being caught in possession will apply.
