2mo ago

Machetes to be banned from sale in Victoria the wake of Northland Shopping Centre brawl

www.abc.net.au

Two teens allegedly involved in Melbourne shopping centre brawl were on bail

cross-posted from: https://quokk.au/post/6390494

The Victorian government will ban the sale of machetes from Wednesday after a gang brawl at a shopping centre.
Two males were arrested and another was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after the incident at Northlands shopping centre.

World News @quokk.au

Deceptichum @quokk.au

2mo ago

Machetes to be banned from sale in Victoria the wake of Northland Shopping Centre brawl

www.abc.net.au /news/2025-05-26/northland-shopping-centre-machete-brawl-melbourne/105334876

32 comments

I've got a relatively small stand of bamboo growing in my backyard and I have no idea how I would control it if I didn't have a machete. It would take over my whole yard in one or two growing seasons if I didn't spend some time every spring hacking away at the new growth.
Nothing like a good moral panic to make people throw reason out the window. Carrying a machete without a reasonable cause is already illegal and clearly didn't stop these people, banning them altogether will just make things hard for those who would use them legally.
It's the same level of thinking as some pelican near me who was calling for a 40km/h zone due to a recent accident. The existing laws against taking illegal drugs, stealing cars, staying on the road, and not speeding over the current limit didn't stop the guy who caused it, but he sure would have listened to a 40km/h sign...
- I kept waiting for the punchline, I thought this is sarcastically mimicking the American arguments against gun regulations.
- As far as I'm aware there isn't a thriving jungle expedition scene in Victoria. And slower roads are just safer. They objectively save lives.
  
  As far as I’m aware there isn’t a thriving jungle expedition scene in Victoria
  You don't know what people actually use machetes for, but they look scary so lets make a snide comment suggesting there's no reason to have them. That's exactly the sort of knee jerk reaction which makes for dumb laws like this.
You can make one with an angle grinder and about half an hour. This is dumb.
Absolutely carrying them around town should be illegal, but they are super useful in rural settings.
- If you ban the tool, people who legitimately use the tool are harmed, and the people who abuse the tool will just find something else.
  
  It's not like it's banned across Canada. They will still be available elsewhere on the island even.
  This is just as dumb as local city and state gun laws in the US. Gun nuts point at them and point out how they don't work. Like no shit they don't work when you can just drive for 20 mins and get one.
  Edit: okay I got lost . I thought this was about the Canadian city of Victoria. Turns out it's..not. I'm leaving this here as a monument of my stupidity.
  
  You can still use it companies just can't sell them anymore
- Are lawn mowers now banned for being full auto machetes?
  
  A lawnmower fight at a shopping centre would be... different.
- I legitimately don't know the specific use case of a machete, what is it?
  
  Rural NSW bushland - heaps of people around here have machetes and cane knives. Useful for cutting through vines, small saplings, lantana, etc. My cane knife is probably my 3rd most used tool when doing outdoor work on my property.
This might be one of those,
We have to do something
This is something
We must do this.
It completely depends on how the rules are implemented however. It isn't just knee jerk policy and has been in the works for a bit. I do hope it works.
To be clear, this was already in the works, it's not just a knee-jerk response, but they're bringing in an immediate ban instead of waiting for the originally-legislated date in September.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/machete-knife-crime-victoria-explainer/105049700
- Ah thanks for the extra information, shame it’s still garbage.
  Machetes are already "controlled weapons", which mean they cannot be possessed or carried without a lawful excuse, but under Premier Jacinta Allan's new proposal, they will be banned.
  
  People who need them will be able to apply for a permit, so not a complete ban:
  Under the new laws, Victorians who legitimately require them such as farmers or hunters will be required to apply for exemptions.
At least these young people were out socialising instead of at home on social media.
Cars kill way more people and they're not suggesting we ban cars.
Dear Australia
It won't make a difference
Sincerely The UK
- Oh of course, and it's such a non-issue already. Knee-jerk reaction by state govt.

32 comments