Australians ordered to surrender machetes or go to prison

The state of Victoria has rolled out machete disposal bins ahead of a ban on the tools amid rising violent crime

Australians have been ordered to surrender their machetes or face up to two years in prison and fines exceeding $30,000 under a new weapons ban in Victoria. The state’s government adopted the measure in an effort reverse a surge in violent crime.

Victoria has announced a complete ban on the possession, sale, and use of machetes, set to come into effect on September 1. Residents have been given a three-month amnesty period to comply, with officials warning that after November 30, having a machete without an exemption will be a criminal offence.

In a statement on Thursday, Premier Jacinta Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines said that more than 40 disposal bins had been installed across Victoria, including outside police stations in areas with high rates of violent incidents.

Agricultural workers and those claiming traditional or cultural use will be allowed to keep machetes but must prove eligibility to police if asked.

Australia is being run by complete morons ????‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/yq4t9JnVM4

— One Bad Dude (@OneBadDude_) August 4, 2025

The new restrictions follow a rise in what officials have described as gang-related youth crime. Victoria Police reported seizing an average of 44 illegal blades a day in 2025. According to government figures, assaults with edged weapons at shopping centers have risen by 161% since 2014.

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Youths aged 10 to 17 are said to make up 13% of offenders overall, while accounting for 63% of robberies, 46% of aggravated burglaries, and more than a quarter of all car thefts.

The new policy has drawn mockery and criticism from some residents, who have questioned the effectiveness of machete drop boxes. Social media users have argued the government is avoiding the underlying causes of the crime spike, pointing to growing concerns over migration and activity by armed African youth gangs in Melbourne. Victoria Premier Allan has repeatedly lauded the state’s diversity and multiculturalism.

A similar ban on “ninja swords” was recently introduced in the UK, which has faced comparable criticism for failing to tackle the underlying drivers of rising knife violence, such as uncontrolled migration.