Bail bombshell after teens allegedly storm Melbourne shopping centre with machetes
Three of the four people arrested following a shopping centre brawl in Melbourne were out on bail at the time of the incident, including two teenagers.
On Sunday, Northland Shopping Centre was plunged into lockdown following a brawl between 10 people that resulted in multiple people being stabbed.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Two teens charged over machete brawl.
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A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested at the centre.
A 20-year-old allegedly involved in the brawl was also out on bail. He has been charged over the incident and bailed again.
Video footage of the incident emerged, showing one person lunging at several others with a large machete.
Video footage of the incident at Northland Shopping Centre emerged showing one person lunging at several others with a large machete.
Credit: 7NEWS
The brawl was one of two major incidents in a violent weekend in Victoria that have prompted a ban on machete sales in the state.
A woman was shot dead by police on Saturday evening after police responded to reports of a man wielding a machete in South Melbourne.
As police were arresting the man, a car was driven at one of the officers, and police responded by shooting at the car.
The female driver, aged 26, died at the scene.
On Monday morning Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the two events.
'I want to be absolutely clear that here in the state of Victoria community safety comes first and we have seen over the weekend two incidents in both South Melbourne and Northland Shopping Centre that were appalling,' she said.
'My thoughts are with everyone who has been touched by these incidents over the weekend.
'That's why we have been working incredibly hard to bring about Australia's first machete ban.
'These knives are dangerous weapons, they have no place on our streets anywhere.'
The ban on selling the dangerous weapons, which was due to start on September 1, will now be fast-tracked to begin from midday on Wednesday, Allan said.
However, the government has been criticised for banning the sale of machetes but not prohibiting the possession of the weapons.
There will also be a grace period between the ban taking effect and authorities confiscating machetes.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has brought forward a statewide machete ban following a crime-fuelled weekend in Melbourne.
Credit: AAP
Machetes are classified as a cutting-edge knife with a blade of more than 20cm.
Kitchen knives are not intended to be included in the interim ban.
The interim ban will expire when machetes are officially classified as a prohibited weapon under new legislation on September 1.
According to the state government, the ban is to 'dry up the supply' of the dangerous weapons before this date.
The premier announced the amendment of the Control of Weapons Act in March, which will prohibit the sale or possession of machetes.
An amnesty will run from September 1 to November 30 to give people time to dispose of their knives.
Secure bins will be set up throughout the state, potentially outside select police stations, where people will be able to dispose of their machetes safely.
Those caught with a prohibited weapon in Victoria could face two years in prison or a fine of more than $47,000.
Some people, including those who work in agriculture, will be able to apply for an exemption following September 1.
However, those entitled to these exemptions will not be able to buy a machete during the interim ban.
'The government acknowledges this will affect some legitimate users – but we are still proceeding with the interim sale ban to put community safety above all,' the state government said.
When asked how it would comply with the immediate ban, Bunnings Director of Merchandise Cam Rist said it is working with relevant stakeholders to achieve this.
'We comply with all regulatory requirements across Australia to ensure the safe and proper sale of our products.
'We're working with industry and government around reviewing the details of the ban and the products impacted.'
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