The Victorian government has accelerated Australia’s first-ever machete prohibition following a violent gang confrontation at Preston’s Northland shopping centre on Sunday.
Premier Jacinta Allan announced the ban will take effect this Wednesday instead of September after two rival youth groups clashed with four machetes, leaving a 20-year-old man hospitalized in serious condition.
Victoria Police have charged two teenagers (15 and 16) and arrested two young men (18 and 20) following the 2:30 pm incident 11km north of Melbourne CBD. Deputy Commissioner David Clayton confirmed all suspects were known to police and described the violence as a prearranged conflict between gangs. Officers recovered three of the four machetes used in the attack, with the investigation continuing.
The emergency legislation amends Victoria’s Control of Weapons Act to prohibit machete sales and possession immediately. This ban defines prohibited weapons as knives with blades exceeding 20cm, excluding kitchen utensils. Premier Allan emphasized the need to prevent public spaces from becoming danger zones: “Our shopping centres should remain safe for families, not battlefields for gangs.”
Comparing the Global Crackdown on Bladed Weapons
Victoria’s accelerated timeline contrasts with the UK’s 18-month process to ban zombie knives and machetes last September. The Australian state will implement a three-month amnesty period starting September, allowing voluntary surrender of machetes at police stations without penalty. Authorities praised a civilian who restrained one suspect but cautioned against public intervention in violent incidents.
While emphasizing such events remain rare, police officials revealed that 10% of Victoria’s knife crimes involve youth offenders, often occurring in public areas like the Preston shopping precinct.
This decisive action positions Victoria as Australia’s first jurisdiction to implement specific machete controls, setting a potential precedent for other states struggling with similar weapon-related violence in urban areas.
