Latest news with #ConsumerAffairsVictoria
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Allan government urged to legislate two-year jail sentences for anyone caught with machete on the streets in Victoria
Premier Jacinta Allan is being urged to introduce two-year jail terms for anyone caught on Victorian streets carrying a machete ahead of a total ban in September. The state government used "extraordinary powers" to fast track a total ban on sales of machetes on Wednesday following two scary public incidents last weekend. On May 24, police were called to South Melbourne to reports a man was armed with a machete. While officers apprehended the man, a woman drove at them in a car. Police shot into the vehicle, fatally hitting a 34-year-old woman. While on Sunday, officers were called to Northland Shopping Centre in the city's north to reports a group of youths were fighting which allegedly saw machetes produced. Shoppers could be seen running for their lives in scenes reminiscent to the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack in Sydney that claimed the lives of six people. Victoria's shadow police minister David Southwick said the Liberal Party had pushed to ban machetes five times in the past 15 months, which the government knocked back. He also argued the ban put in place was on sales and not possession. "So you can still carry one around," Mr Southwick told Sky News host Steve Price. The Caufield MP also raised concerns about the days leading up to the ban, claiming retailers were selling machetes for $4 to get rid of stock. "When the ban finally comes into play... are they hoping the $4 machetes that have been sold off will be handed into a police station in four month's time?" he asked. There has also been confusion around the description of a machete. Prior to the ban, the Victorian government said a machete is "broadly" classified as a "cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres". But on the day the restriction came in place, director of Consumer Affairs Victoria Nicole Rich said there were no particular lengths of the banned knives. The government has previously shown examples of machetes. Mr Southwick said he could not define the banned weapon and questioned how the government and police will encourage people to hand them in. He pushed for jail terms for anyone caught on the street with them. "What we've been calling for is pretty plain and simple: if you carry one on the street you should face a jail term of two years and the government won't legislate that until September. So between now and September people have got a holiday to carry them around on the streets, they just can't buy them from a retail store," he said. The government said an amnesty will begin from September 1 to November 30 where people can dispose machetes into bins at safe locations and police stations. In a statement, Ms Allan said community safety was her priority. "We must never let places we meet become places we fear," she said. 'I hate these knives and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.'
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Machete ban enforcers slow to hit beat after mall brawl
An Australian-first ban on machete sales has sliced into action but enforcement officers are yet to hit the streets. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between machete-wielding rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday. The scare prompted Victoria to implement an exemption-less ban on the sale of machetes from midday on Wednesday. A task force of 14 people has been deployed to enforce the retail prohibition but its members won't hit the streets until Thursday. "They will be in the field tomorrow," Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos told reporters on Wednesday. The formal ban notice features photos of six machetes as examples of banned items. It does not include a minimum length despite the government previously referring to machetes as being at least 20cm long. Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the ban notice covered anything an "ordinary person" would understand to be a machete. "If you're in any doubt about whether a product is or isn't, it probably is a machete and I think you'd be safe to remove it from sale," she said. Some shops could be handed warnings for inadvertent breaches instead of facing civil or criminal penalties, but the regulator will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. Mr Staikos ruled out a buy-back scheme to compensate retailers for machetes that can no longer be sold, or to encourage crooks to hand in the dangerous blades. The interim sales ban can only be enacted for 90 days under commonwealth consumer laws, meaning it will expire five days before a full ban on possession and three-month amnesty period takes effect from September 1. Mr Staikos said he was in discussions with the federal government to extend the ban to cover the gap. Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the amnesty period could begin earlier if locked disposal boxes at 40 police stations are ready before the deadline. "If Victoria Police come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety," she said. Victorian bail laws were tightened in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. The shopping centre incident has raised questions about their effectiveness after it was revealed at least four people charged over it were already out on bail. The final arrest was made on Tuesday night, with an 18-year-old Thornhill Park man since charged with affray and weapons offences. Other arrests made by police this week include an 18-year-old man from Derrimut and a 21-year-old man from Kew, who suffered head injuries during the clash. Police also arrested and charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, from Darebin and Melton, and two men, aged 20, and 21, from Thornbury and Bundoora. All were already on bail. An Australian-first ban on machete sales has sliced into action but enforcement officers are yet to hit the streets. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between machete-wielding rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday. The scare prompted Victoria to implement an exemption-less ban on the sale of machetes from midday on Wednesday. A task force of 14 people has been deployed to enforce the retail prohibition but its members won't hit the streets until Thursday. "They will be in the field tomorrow," Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos told reporters on Wednesday. The formal ban notice features photos of six machetes as examples of banned items. It does not include a minimum length despite the government previously referring to machetes as being at least 20cm long. Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the ban notice covered anything an "ordinary person" would understand to be a machete. "If you're in any doubt about whether a product is or isn't, it probably is a machete and I think you'd be safe to remove it from sale," she said. Some shops could be handed warnings for inadvertent breaches instead of facing civil or criminal penalties, but the regulator will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. Mr Staikos ruled out a buy-back scheme to compensate retailers for machetes that can no longer be sold, or to encourage crooks to hand in the dangerous blades. The interim sales ban can only be enacted for 90 days under commonwealth consumer laws, meaning it will expire five days before a full ban on possession and three-month amnesty period takes effect from September 1. Mr Staikos said he was in discussions with the federal government to extend the ban to cover the gap. Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the amnesty period could begin earlier if locked disposal boxes at 40 police stations are ready before the deadline. "If Victoria Police come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety," she said. Victorian bail laws were tightened in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. The shopping centre incident has raised questions about their effectiveness after it was revealed at least four people charged over it were already out on bail. The final arrest was made on Tuesday night, with an 18-year-old Thornhill Park man since charged with affray and weapons offences. Other arrests made by police this week include an 18-year-old man from Derrimut and a 21-year-old man from Kew, who suffered head injuries during the clash. Police also arrested and charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, from Darebin and Melton, and two men, aged 20, and 21, from Thornbury and Bundoora. All were already on bail. An Australian-first ban on machete sales has sliced into action but enforcement officers are yet to hit the streets. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between machete-wielding rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday. The scare prompted Victoria to implement an exemption-less ban on the sale of machetes from midday on Wednesday. A task force of 14 people has been deployed to enforce the retail prohibition but its members won't hit the streets until Thursday. "They will be in the field tomorrow," Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos told reporters on Wednesday. The formal ban notice features photos of six machetes as examples of banned items. It does not include a minimum length despite the government previously referring to machetes as being at least 20cm long. Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the ban notice covered anything an "ordinary person" would understand to be a machete. "If you're in any doubt about whether a product is or isn't, it probably is a machete and I think you'd be safe to remove it from sale," she said. Some shops could be handed warnings for inadvertent breaches instead of facing civil or criminal penalties, but the regulator will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. Mr Staikos ruled out a buy-back scheme to compensate retailers for machetes that can no longer be sold, or to encourage crooks to hand in the dangerous blades. The interim sales ban can only be enacted for 90 days under commonwealth consumer laws, meaning it will expire five days before a full ban on possession and three-month amnesty period takes effect from September 1. Mr Staikos said he was in discussions with the federal government to extend the ban to cover the gap. Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the amnesty period could begin earlier if locked disposal boxes at 40 police stations are ready before the deadline. "If Victoria Police come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety," she said. Victorian bail laws were tightened in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. The shopping centre incident has raised questions about their effectiveness after it was revealed at least four people charged over it were already out on bail. The final arrest was made on Tuesday night, with an 18-year-old Thornhill Park man since charged with affray and weapons offences. Other arrests made by police this week include an 18-year-old man from Derrimut and a 21-year-old man from Kew, who suffered head injuries during the clash. Police also arrested and charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, from Darebin and Melton, and two men, aged 20, and 21, from Thornbury and Bundoora. All were already on bail. An Australian-first ban on machete sales has sliced into action but enforcement officers are yet to hit the streets. Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between machete-wielding rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday. The scare prompted Victoria to implement an exemption-less ban on the sale of machetes from midday on Wednesday. A task force of 14 people has been deployed to enforce the retail prohibition but its members won't hit the streets until Thursday. "They will be in the field tomorrow," Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos told reporters on Wednesday. The formal ban notice features photos of six machetes as examples of banned items. It does not include a minimum length despite the government previously referring to machetes as being at least 20cm long. Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich said the ban notice covered anything an "ordinary person" would understand to be a machete. "If you're in any doubt about whether a product is or isn't, it probably is a machete and I think you'd be safe to remove it from sale," she said. Some shops could be handed warnings for inadvertent breaches instead of facing civil or criminal penalties, but the regulator will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. Mr Staikos ruled out a buy-back scheme to compensate retailers for machetes that can no longer be sold, or to encourage crooks to hand in the dangerous blades. The interim sales ban can only be enacted for 90 days under commonwealth consumer laws, meaning it will expire five days before a full ban on possession and three-month amnesty period takes effect from September 1. Mr Staikos said he was in discussions with the federal government to extend the ban to cover the gap. Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the amnesty period could begin earlier if locked disposal boxes at 40 police stations are ready before the deadline. "If Victoria Police come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety," she said. Victorian bail laws were tightened in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts. The shopping centre incident has raised questions about their effectiveness after it was revealed at least four people charged over it were already out on bail. The final arrest was made on Tuesday night, with an 18-year-old Thornhill Park man since charged with affray and weapons offences. Other arrests made by police this week include an 18-year-old man from Derrimut and a 21-year-old man from Kew, who suffered head injuries during the clash. Police also arrested and charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, from Darebin and Melton, and two men, aged 20, and 21, from Thornbury and Bundoora. All were already on bail.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Victoria's machete sale ban off to rocky start following confusion over the rules
Victoria's ban on the sale of machetes has officially come into effect, however community confusion remains after the government announced a last-minute change on the weapons classification. The government has been touting the ban, effective from midday on Wednesday, as a way to 'dry up' the supply of the dangerous weapons ahead of September 1 when they will be prohibited. The ban on both possessing and selling the machetes was to begin on this date but the sale ban was fast-tracked after a violent weekend in Melbourne. But in the three days since the ban was announced and then enacted, the government has changed its definition of what is classified as a machete, leading to more questions than answers. Initially, machetes were described as a cutting-edge knife with a blade of more than 20cm. Kitchen knives were not included. But on Wednesday, director of Consumer Affairs Victoria Nicole Rich said there was no particular length included in the definition of the banned knives. Instead, she referred to a ban notice issued by the government on Tuesday, saying it was the 'single source of truth' for what is and isn't banned. In the notice, machetes are classified as 'large broad-bladed cutting knives', with examples depicted in six pictures. The examples show large knives with smooth cutting edges, but do not include knifes with serrated edges like the ones that were shown during a press conference in March when the initial September 1 ban was announced. Rich said a machete was 'anything that an ordinary person would consider to be a machete'. 'If something is clearly a kitchen knife, something is clearly a saw, if ordinary people would understand that to be the case ... that is what it is,' she said. 'If you're in any doubt about whether a product is or isn't, it's probably a machete and I think you'd be safe to remove it from sale. 'I think people do understand the (difference) between an ordinary knife or even other tools and a machete, and the ban notice is framed accordingly.' There was also confusion around online and interstate retailers, and if the ban applied only to retailers physically in the state of Victoria. Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos clarified the ban did extend to interstate and online shops selling machetes in the state and that the government would be monitoring online sales. 'Any business that sells machetes into Victoria whether that's online or not is liable for the civil and criminal penalties,' he said. How the government will track this is unclear, with a spokesperson from the Australian Border Force telling 7NEWS the importation of machetes from overseas is not illegal. 'The ABF does not have a role in items that move across state borders and jurisdictions,' the spokesperson said. 'The importation of weapons, such as daggers, automatic knives, and throwing knives are prohibited under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations ... unless a valid import permit has been obtained. 'Machetes are not prohibited weapons.' Staikos said a number of online retailers had already removed machetes from their sites. Two of the biggest online retailers in the world, eBay and Amazon, sell a number of machetes. A spokesperson from Amazon said it was 'working to ensure these products are not available for purchase from 12pm Wednesday'. As of Wednesday afternoon, it appeared as though Amazon had removed the links to machetes on its site for people based in Victoria, while eBay was contacted for comment. Machete ban labelled 'confusing' Les Twentyman Foundation chief executive Paul Burke said anecdotally, he had been told most youths were buying machetes via the internet. To combat this, the federal government needed to step in, he said. 'The Victorian Government can't stop the importation of these things … so you need to choke the supply there, the only people that can choke the supply there is the Federal Government and its agencies.' 'I mean to solve this problem once and for all, it is a national problem, it's not just Melbourne, it's not just Victoria, it needs a little bit of (help from the) government and a whole lot of common sense.' While machetes have been taken off the shelves of camping and outdoor stores, other potentially dangerous weapons like smaller knives and folding gardening saws with blades over 20cm remain. Burke said the ban should extend to include more weapons and types of knives, and admitted the governments' definition of a machete was 'confusing'. 'We've always argued that the ban shouldn't just be machetes, it should be these combat knives that seem to be so prevalent as well,' he said. 'It would be good to have (more details) as soon as possible. You get the feeling that perhaps some of it is still being worked out as we speak.' On Wednesday, Premier Jacinta Allan said the September 1 ban on carrying machetes could be brought forward if the locked disposal boxes at 40 police stations are ready before the deadline. During an amnesty from September to the end of November, people who have machetes will be able to dispose of the weapons in specially designated boxes. 'It's really important to make sure we have the arrangements for the amnesty right,' she said. 'When you have a focus on community safety, when that's the priority, you don't want to then go and take action that risks community safety or risks the workplace safety of those police officers who will need to be handling these dangerous weapons once the amnesty commences. 'If Victoria Police can come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety.'
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
More unsafe children's products found at Panda Mart
The Panda Mart store in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / Vera Jiang The Commerce Commission has identified seven more children's products it considers unsafe as part of its ongoing investigation into bargain store Panda Mart. The items - a baby walker, doll, smartphone toy, fairy cake toy, sunscreen product and two car toys - have been added to a list of 40 children's goods the commission declared to be unsafe in December. Recall notices have been issued for the 47 items sold in Panda Mart's stores in Auckland and Christchurch. The commission has made "legally binding commitments" with Panda Mart for the first time, meaning the outlet needed to halt sales of the products identified or any similar or new products that could be unsafe. "If Panda Mart breaks these commitments, the commission may take court action," a spokesperson from the agency said. "This is to protect consumers while our investigation continues and should reduce the sale of further unsafe goods." The previous list included 11 kinds of walkers, seven kinds of bikes, various kinds of toys, sunscreen products and hot water bags. The unsafe products were deemed to be non-complaint with the product safety standard or an unsafe goods notice. The commission said Panda Mart stopped the sale of the specific products mentioned in the recall late last year but continued to sell similar products. The 47 products listed on the commission's website were no longer sold by Panda Mart, the commission said. Panda Mart products that have been identified as unsafe by the Commerce Commission. Photo: Supplied / Commerce Commission Recall notices on some of these products can be found on the government's Product Safety website, which shows several non-child products were also being recalled, including a gardening tool, an extension cord and three different kinds of table lamps. Vanessa Horne, general manager of competition, fair trading and credit at the commission, said the agency was continuing to investigate the business. "We are actively monitoring this situation and continue to be concerned about the safety of products sold at Panda Mart," Horne said. "One of the commission's enduring priorities is to prioritise product safety issues that are within our regime which have the potential to cause serious harm to consumers, particularly children." Panda Mart has also come to the attention of the Australian government, with a public warning against it being issued in March. Thousands of products, including children's make-up sets, birthday cards, glitter balls and bike helmets, were considered failing to "meet mandatory product safety and information standards, including items that could be dangerous", according to Consumer Affairs Victoria. RNZ has approached Panda Mart for comment.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Landlord's shock admission lands Aussie tenants in rental nightmare
An Aussie tenant claims they and their flatmate have been 'held hostage' by their landlord after forking out a year's rent in advance. The renters from Victoria, who shared their story anonymously on Facebook group Don't Rent Me are now in a difficult position after the landlord advised they want to sell up. Before signing the lease, the landlord assured the tenants they had no intentions of selling the property in the next year but subsequently had a change of heart four months in. The median rent for a house is $580 per week in Melbourne, which is more than $30,000 a year. 'After paying 12 months' rent in advance, my landlord notified us of her intention to sell the property,' the renter fumed. The renters told the landlord they couldn't remain as tenants during the sales process and requested a refund of the unused rent before issuing a vacate notice with more than a month's notice. 'We both work demanding jobs, we work from home, I have an auto immune disease while treating it with immune suppressant which can cause complications if exposed to germs and so constant inspections would disrupt our lives and health,' they said. The renter said the landlord told them she 'didn't have the funds' and would only be reimbursed the remaining rent until after the property was sold. Inspections were initially paused on the property but when the landlord began 'pushing' for them again, the tenants refused. The ongoing dispute has caused 'severe emotional and physical distress' for the tenants. 'All I want is to move, secure a property, and get on with my life. But instead, I feel held hostage in a home I've already overpaid for,' they added. 'I've done everything right. I paid up front. I gave notice. I was respectful and patient. Why am I being punished for that? This is not just unfair, it's inhumane.' Aussies commented on the post urging the tent to seek advice from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CVA) and Tenants Victoria. Others suggested escalating the dispute to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). 'I'd apply for an emergency hearing at your state-based tribunal, asking for your rent to be returned within a fair notice period for both parties (60 days?) and one inspection per month within that time, given your health concerns,' one wrote. 'Offering a reasonable option will make it more likely to be found in your favour.' A real estate property manager added: 'The agent should've advised against the [tenant] doing this […] Very poor form of the agency. While the agency does work for the owner, they have a duty of care to the tenant and an ethical responsibility.' Landlords can't ask for more than one month's rent in advance in Victoria if the rent is less than $900 per week. There is no limit on how much rent tenants can voluntarily pay in advance. Victorian rents can usually end a fixed-term agreement early if the owner is selling up but need to give at least 14 days notice. Landlords can conduct no more than two one hour sales inspections a week while the property is tenanted and must give written notice. Tenants cannot refuse entry for sales inspections if the correct process has been followed.
