THE Legislate Assembly debated the Government Business Program in Parliament on Tuesday, March 18 with the first Tough Bail Bill facing objections from the coalition.
Despite the objection, the State Government has implemented Australia’s first machete ban with the Terrorism (Community Protection) and Control of Weapons Amendment Bill 2025 passing Parliament on March 19, 2025.
Prohibited weapons are the most strictly regulated in Victoria. Penalties of two years imprisonment or a fine of over $47,000 for being caught in possession of one will apply.
Under the law changes, machetes will be classified as a prohibited weapon from September 1, 2025. If people wish to own a machete for an allowed purpose such as agriculture, they must apply for an exemption. These exemptions will be worked through with industry.
An amnesty will run from 1 September to 30 November to get these weapons off the streets safely. During that time, people will be able to safely dispose of their knives without committing a crime.
They will be able to do this using secure bins in safe locations, which are likely to include an outdoor area at select police stations. These bins will start opening on September 1.
Police will also have the power to search an area for weapons for longer under the changes to the law.
The Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police can declare a location like a train station or a shopping centre a designated search area so police can search people for weapons like knives without a warrant and seize items.
Before the changes a place could only be declared a designated search area for 12 hours at a time – now the Chief Commissioner can declare a location a designated search area for up to six months.
This allows police to act on intelligence about potential violence and weapons for much longer – and it gives people confidence that police will have the powers they need, when they need them, in the busy places they meet, commute, shop, and spend time.
The Premier last week called on major retailers to stop placing stock orders for machetes and Victoria will also write to the Federal Government about action on machete imports at the border and exploring a national ban on machetes.
These extra powers build on Victoria’s Tough Bail Laws, which will target repeat high-risk offenders, jolt the system, and deliver consequences for breaking the rules.
As part of the first Tough Bail Bill, there will be tougher bail tests for many serious and high-risk offences.
The Government can confirm these offences will include the following knife crimes: committing an offence involving controlled weapons (including machete violence), prohibited weapons offences, and offensive weapons offences.
This includes the use of everyday implements fashioned into or used as weapons, such as baseball bats, kitchen knives, and shivs.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines says: “We’ll always give police what they need to keep Victorians safe, and the passing of this bill will immediately help Victoria Police to get more knives off our streets.
“This is Australia’s first machete ban, and we agree with police that it must be done once and done right. It took the UK 18 months – we can do it in six.”
