Australian state rolls out machete ‘disposal bins' ahead of ban
Australia's state of Victoria on Thursday announced that more than 40 machete disposal bins will be available at police stations across the state to allow citizens to safely get rid of the weapons without a penalty before the Sept. 1 ban begins.
"Owning, carrying, using, buying, or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval will be a criminal offense," the Victorian government said in a statement.
The government is running a "Machete Amnesty" period from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 to support the safe disposal of machetes. Those who do not surrender their machetes during the amnesty period may face imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of more than $47,000 AUD ($31,725 U.S. dollars).
"These knives destroy lives – so we're taking them off the streets," Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement.
Victoria police have seized a record number of illegal knives from the streets, averaging at least 44 knives a day, Sky News Australia reported.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the government is backing Victoria Police to get the weapons out of the hands of young people to keep citizens safe.
"Our message to anyone with these weapons is simple – get rid of them or face the consequences," Carbines said in a statement.
Exemptions for those who can possess a machete include agricultural workers who use them as part of their job, along with machetes that are used in a traditional, historical or cultural capacity, according to the government. Individuals exempt must comply with strict conditions and be able to demonstrate eligibility if asked by police.
The Victoria government said it had already issued a temporary ban on the sale of machetes in May, resulting in Amazon removing the weapons for purchase from its website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
7 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Why Our Economist — One of the Few to Call RBA's Shock Hold — Now Sees a Cut
Never miss an episode. Follow The Bloomberg Australia Podcast today. The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised the market in July by holding interest rates steady — and only a few people saw it coming. One of those who did was Bloomberg Economics' James McIntyre. Now, he thinks that Governor Michele Bullock and her board will finally deliver a cut at the August 12 meeting. This week on the Bloomberg Australia Podcast, Chris Bourke talks to McIntyre about what's changed since the July decision, how far borrowing costs could fall this year - and why US President Donald Trump may play a role in what the RBA does next.
CBS News
7 minutes ago
- CBS News
Sacramento family faces $800 in damages after 12-year-old kicks in door in possible TikTok challenge
A Sacramento family has hundreds of dollars in damage after police say a twelve-year-old kicked in their door in what may be tied to a viral TikTok challenge. Sacramento police responded to South Sacramento, near Lemarsh Way, after 10:30 p.m. last Monday for a vandalism report. The 12-year-old went home to their parent on the same night. The so-called "Door Kick Challenge" involves teens kicking in strangers' doors in the middle of the night and then running away. While Sacramento police haven't confirmed this was the inspiration for the vandalism, the homeowners see the parallels between what happened at their home and other headlines across the country. "Kicking down someone's door? You can get seriously hurt," said Jennifer Farias, the homeowner. "It's traumatizing." Farias told CBS Sacramento she was asleep in their living room next to her newborn baby when the door was kicked in, just inches from them. She believed they were the targets of a break-in and that the suspect could be inside the house. Her husband ran outside and shortly after, police arrived, Farias said. "I would've never thought that this is something kids do nowadays," Farias said. Now, the family says they have at least $800 in damages to replace the front door and fix the wall. For now, Farias says they stack up furniture and reinforce the still-broken door with wood in an effort to "feel safer." "I'm still scared. I'm still scared to come home. I don't sleep very good, just because I'm like, what if somebody comes in and tries to break down my door again?" Sacramento police confirm to CBS Sacramento that the case is still open and classified as felony vandalism.
CBS News
7 minutes ago
- CBS News
Wanted man captured after hours long search throughout parts of Westmoreland County
A man who was wanted by law enforcement was captured Wednesday evening after an hours long search throughout parts of Westmoreland County. The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office said that Donald Sciulli was captured at a home in Herminie after he escaped deputies who had followed him to an ice cream stand near Greensburg. The sheriff's office said that Sciulli, 42, Had a felony warrant out of Allegheny County for assault, robbery, and strangulation and deputies followed tracked him to the Tastyland along Business Rt. 66 in Hempfield Township around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. When law enforcement officers approached him, Sciulli took off and prompted deputies to establish a perimeter. Sciulli was believed to have escaped the area through the woods before the perimeter was established. The sheriff's office said later in the evening, they learned information that led them to the home in Herminie where they believed Sciulli was. When deputies arrived, Sciulli initially resisted, pushed a door closed before going to an upstairs bedroom, and was later taken into custody without incident. Sciulli is now being held in the Westmoreland County Prison and is expected to face new charges for fleeing and resisting.
