Australian state rolls out ‘machete disposal bins' ahead of ban
Australia's Victorian Government has set up a 'machete amnesty' in support of disposing machetes safely from Sept. 1 until November, as the southeastern state becomes the first to carry out a ban on the weapons.
Machetes will be criminalized in Victoria on Sept. 1, following a series of violent knife crimes and home invasions, Sky News Australia reported.
'Owning, carrying, using, buying, or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval will be a criminal offence,' a statement from the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan reads. This could lead to jail time of up to two years, or fines of up to AUD$47,000 (CAD$41,000).
Multiple police stations in the state will become drop-off points for the soon-to-be-illegal weapons, according to the government website.
Amazon.com has also removed machetes for purchase in Australia, the statement says.
'These knives destroy lives – so we're taking them off the streets,' Allan says in the statement.
'Victorians have zero tolerance for knife crime and so do we – we're enacting this ban and boosting Victoria Police's powers because community safety always comes first.'
Police have seized a record-number of illegal weapons in Victoria, including knives, since the beginning of the year, with an average of 44 knives confiscated each day, according to the Australian news outlet.
Victoria first announced legislative changes to the Control of Weapons Act in March, making selling or possessing machetes illegal.
The ban defines weapons as 'knives with a cutting blade longer than 20 cm,' and does not include knives used for cooking.
Last August, an amnesty and compensation scheme for people who possessed 'zombie-style knives' and machetes was introduced in England and Wales by James Cleverly, the home secretary of U.K. at the time.
The amnesty scheme was announced a month prior to the subsequent ban on the 'statement' weapons, BBC reported.
The new legislation made owning, making, transporting or selling these weapons a criminal offence.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 250 deaths in Canada due to knife crimes in the last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
22 minutes ago
- CBC
Man in critical condition after stabbing in Kensington Market
A man was taken to hospital in critical condition after a stabbing in Kensington Market early Sunday morning. Officers responded to reports of a person being stabbed around 5 a.m. near Bellevue Avenue and Denison Square, Toronto police said in a post on X. When police arrived, they found a man in his 40s "serious stab wounds," the post read. He was taken to hospital in critical condition. Wales Avenue is closed near Augusta Avenue Sunday morning, police said. Bellevue Square Park also remained closed to the public as of 1 p.m. Sunday.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Man in life-threatening condition, 3 arrested after shooting in downtown Toronto
A man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and three people have been arrested after a shooting in downtown Toronto, police say. Officers responded to the sound of gunshots near John Street and Adelaide Street W. around 10:30 p.m., Toronto police said in a post on X. When they arrived, they found a man in his 30s who had been shot. The suspects fled in a vehicle, police said, but three people were later arrested. The victim was taken to hospital where his injuries were found to be life-threatening. A police spokesperson said his condition had not changed as of 8 a.m. Sunday. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
2 men charged after being linked to a suspect in the killings of 4 relatives of an abandoned infant
Vehicles are seen being taken by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Lake County, Tennessee on July 30, 2025, near the area where four family member were found dead. (WHBQ via AP) TIPTONVILLE, Tenn. — Authorities searching for a man wanted in the murders of the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found alive in Tennessee have charged two other men in connection with the killings. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege both men 'assisted' 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond in the murders. Authorities have left many questions unanswered, including how the men allegedly helped Drummond, the manner in which the relatives were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles (64.37 kilometres) from the bodies. Law enforcement officers were still searching for Drummond. 'He should be considered armed and dangerous,' the bureau said in a Saturday news release announcing charges against Thomas. Brown, who also faces one count of tampering with evidence, was arrested a day earlier. Thomas was in custody at the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge and would be transferred to the Lake County Jail to be arraigned on the new charges, authorities said. A listed phone number for Thomas could not be located Sunday. Brown was booked into Lake County Jail, according to authorities. A listed number for Brown could not be located Sunday. Email messages seeking comment were sent to Brown on Sunday. On Friday, authorities said they found the car they believe Drummond was driving. It was located in Jackson, Tennessee, about 70 miles from where the bodies were discovered and some 40 miles from where the baby was left. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said authorities believe it was a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the family. The baby is safe and being cared for, authorities have said. Authorities obtained warrants for Drummond charging him with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. His criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars. No listed for number for Drummond could be found. An attorney who represented him as a teenager has not returned messages from The Associated Press. Authorities have identified the four people found dead in Tiptonville as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the infant's parents, and Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams' mother. The Associated Press
