A state-wide machete ban taking effect next month will see amnesty bins installed at police stations in Frankston, Rosebud and several south-eastern suburbs — part of a controversial move by the Allen-led Victorian Government to outlaw machetes in the name of public safety.
From 1 September, it will be a criminal offence to possess, sell, buy or carry a machete without an approved exemption. Offenders face fines exceeding $47,000 or up to two years in jail.
Read: Machete Ban, Machete Amnesty, and Machete Safe Disposal Bins
A three-month amnesty period will run from 1 September to 30 November, allowing Victorians to surrender machetes anonymously using specially marked bins now being rolled out at more than 40 police stations.
Local amnesty bin locations include:
- Frankston
- Rosebud
- Caulfield
- Dandenong
- Pakenham
- Prahran
- Cranbourne
- Moorabbin
What does the Premier think this is going to achieve?
Premier Jacinta Allan has defended the move, stating machetes “have no place in our communities” and are being used to commit serious crimes.
But many are questioning the logic of a blanket ban on an item that, in most households, is a common gardening tool.
“Anything can be a weapon if used inappropriately,” one local resident said.
“Are we banning axes next? What about screwdrivers?”
Critics argue the amnesty is more performative than practical — an expensive publicity exercise likely to miss the actual targets of concern. The concern isn’t law-abiding residents with old tools in their sheds — it’s violent offenders with intent.
Ban today, black market tomorrow?
A broader concern lies in what bans like this actually encourage. History has shown that prohibition often leads to black market trading, not safer streets.
“It won’t be long before homemade machetes are being sold using scrap metal and timber from Bunnings,” one tradesman said.
Indeed, with no restrictions on purchasing large knives, blades or materials from hardware stores, the ban may simply push possession underground — or worse, incentivise improvised alternatives that are even harder to detect.
Final word
With police resources stretched, questions remain over how consistently the ban will be enforced, and whether it will produce anything more than headlines.
The intent may be safety — but the outcome could be more confusion, more underground activity, and little impact on violent crime.
The state may soon find that banning one type of blade doesn’t stop violence — it just changes what people reach for.
What do you think of the machete ban?
Is it a genuine step toward safer streets — or a political stunt that misses the mark? Will it reduce violent crime, or just push it further underground?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or tag us on social media — we want to hear what locals think.
