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2.13pm
Ban on machete sales working despite eBay ads, Consumer Affairs Victoria says
By Madeleine Heffernan
Consumer Affairs Victoria says its crackdown on the sale of machetes is working, despite advertisements for the weapons appearing on online marketplace eBay.
Consumer Affairs Victoria told MPs on Wednesday its 14-strong machete taskforce has conducted 359 inspections, including more than 280 in-store inspections, since the Allan government announced an interim ban on the sale of machetes due to a spate of attacks.
However, Liberal MP Richard Welch questioned why advertisements for the weapon were still appearing on eBay.
Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the online retailer had provided assurances that the weapon could not be purchased in the state.
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'One of the things that eBay has assured us that they've put in place is geoblocking technology, so even where a machete might appear for sale, whether a purchase can be completed, and also whether machete will actually be delivered or will be cancelled when you try and make a purchase is a separate question,' Rich told the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.
'And we're reasonably confident at the moment that that technology is working, and it would remain very difficult to purchase a machete on eBay.'
The machete ban came into effect on May 28. Maximum penalties for breaching an interim product safety ban are $2.5 million for individuals and $50 million for companies.
The government will move to permanently ban the possession, use and sale of machetes in Victoria later this year.
1.56pm
Another election on the cards for Tassie?
By Alexander Darling
Tasmanians - and the AFL - are watching and waiting to see if Jeremy Rockliff will call a snap election today.
Last week, Rockliff narrowly lost a no-confidence motion moved against him in Tasmanian Parliament by the state opposition.
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Following this, Rockliff broke with parliamentary convention and chose not to step down as Premier.
He is expected to formally make the request on Tuesday, following a sitting of state parliament to pass an emergency budget bill to ensure public servants get paid.
Labor said it moved the motion in response to what it called issues of financial management, government plans to privatise public assets and cost blowouts on projects such as new Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
If an election is called, it will be the second for Tasmania in as many years and the fourth election in seven years, when elections are meant to be held every four years on the island state.
On Tuesday morning, the state's Police Minister Felix Ellis claimed he had texts 'sent by a member of Mr Winter's inner sanctum' proving Winter's no-confidence motion was a power grab rather than done in the interests of Tasmanians.
Winter has tipped the purse strings will be tightened during the campaign.
'This will not be a spend-a-thon from Labor. Our state can't afford it,' he told reporters.
Over the weekend, Rockliff ruled out privatisations as a way of balancing the budget, in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks.
The turmoil in the island state's politics is likely to have repercussions for the Tasmania Devils, the planned 19th team in the AFL. The AFL Commission is meeting today where the political situation is likely to be on the agenda.
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an hour ago
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'Partial tick': coalition cautious on PM's summit idea
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
'Partial tick': coalition cautious on PM's summit idea
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Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Labor's super tax at risk of manipulation
Experts have warned Labor's proposed superannuation tax is open to manipulation. The Albanese government is pushing for superannuation accounts of three million dollars or more to be taxed. One of Australia's biggest auditors, ASF Audits, is concerned about the manipulation of property and farm valuations. The company's head of technical says wealthy Australians could avoid taxation by revaluing assets.
