Australia’s state of Victoria is set to become the first in the country to ban the sale of machetes, bringing the new law into effect this Wednesday—months earlier than planned.
The decision follows a violent gang clash involving machetes at the Northland shopping centre in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Preston on Sunday.
The brawl, which erupted in broad daylight, involved around ten individuals and left a 20-year-old man in hospital in serious condition. Witnesses reported chaos inside the busy shopping centre as rival youth gangs attacked each other with large blades. Emergency services responded swiftly, and police later arrested four people—two teenagers and two men in their late teens and early twenties—all of whom were already known to police.
Three machetes used in the fight have been recovered. Investigators say the incident was pre-arranged and involved no bystanders, though it raised widespread alarm. Authorities said the confrontation was rare but deeply troubling, with youth-related knife crime making up about ten percent of such offences in the state, often occurring in public spaces like parks and shopping centres.
In response to public concern and the severity of the incident, Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed the machete ban will now take effect immediately instead of in September. She stated the aim is to cut off the flow of these weapons before more harm is done, stressing that families should not fear violence in everyday places like shopping malls.
Under the new rules, machetes—defined as knives with blades longer than 20 centimeters—will no longer be available for sale in Victoria. Kitchen knives and tools used for work or agriculture are not included in the ban. A three-month amnesty beginning in September will allow people to surrender their machetes without penalty by dropping them into secure boxes at police stations.
The government had already passed changes to the Control of Weapons Act earlier this year to outlaw the possession and sale of machetes, but the legislation was originally set to roll out later in the year. Sunday’s violence has now triggered an urgent push to act sooner.
Police also praised a bystander who restrained one of the suspects until officers arrived but reminded the public not to put themselves at risk in similar situations. Meanwhile, the investigation continues and more arrests are expected.
This move puts Victoria ahead of other regions in taking firm action against knife-related violence. For comparison, it took the United Kingdom a year and a half to roll out similar legislation. With the new ban, authorities hope to prevent machetes from being used in further attacks and restore a sense of safety in public areas.