Latest news with #ControlofWeaponsAct
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Bail bombshell after teens allegedly storm shopping centre with machetes
Three of four people arrested over a shopping centre brawl in Melbourne were on bail at the time, including two teenagers. Multiple people were stabbed on Sunday when a brawl broke out between about 10 people, plunging Northland Shopping Centre into lockdown. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Two teens charged over machete brawl. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested at the centre. A 20-year-old allegedly charged over the incident was allegedly already on bail, and has been bailed again. Video footage of the incident shows one person lunging at several others with a large machete. Video footage of the incident at Northland Shopping Centre shows one person lunging at several others with a large machete. Credit: 7NEWS The brawl was one of two major incidents across Victoria which have prompted a ban on machete sales in the state. A woman was shot dead by police on Saturday evening when officers 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 violent 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.'
7NEWS
26-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
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. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 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.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Australia fast-tracks machete ban after shopping centre attack
A fight involving machetes at a Melbourne shopping centre has prompted an Australian state to fast-track the country's first-ever ban on the weapon's sale. The ban - to start in Victoria this Wednesday, instead of September - comes after two gangs attacked each other at Northland shopping centre in Preston on Sunday afternoon. A man, 20, remains in hospital in a serious condition. Victoria's premier said the ban will "choke the supply", adding "the community shouldn't have to deal with these weapons in their shopping centres - neither should our police". Two boys, aged 16 and 15, were on Sunday charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, and possession and use of a controlled weapon. On Monday, police said two men, aged 20 and 18, had also been arrested and were being interviewed. All four people were known to police previously. "This was a planned fight between two rival youth gangs with no innocent bystanders hurt," said deputy commissioner David Clayton. "Fortunately, these events are not very commonplace in Victoria," he said, adding that youth knife crime is "rare" but "frightening". Clayton said one in 10 knife crimes in the state are committed by young people, and often happen in public places. Emergency services were called to the shopping centre in Preston - about 11km (seven miles) north of Melbourne - just after 14:30 local time (05:30 BST) on Sunday after reports of up to 10 people fighting. Police said the investigation "remains ongoing" and more arrests are expected. Three of the four machetes used during the attack have been seized, police said. Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan described the attack as "appalling". "We must never let the places where we gather - where families come together, to meet, to shop, to enjoy the peace of their weekend - become the places we fear," Allan said at a press conference. "It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on machetes and we are moving to do it within six months," she added. In March, Victoria announced legislative changes to its Control of Weapons Act, making it illegal to sell or possess machetes, with the new law to start in September. The ban covers machetes, which are broadly defined as "knives with a cutting blade longer than 20cm". It does not include knives primarily used in kitchens. A three-month amnesty from September means anyone with a machete can place them in specially designated boxes at police stations. Police also thanked a man who held down one of the alleged offenders until police arrived, saying he "performed an outstanding job", but added they don't encourage the public to become involved in such incidents. In England and Wales, a ban on "zombie-style" knives and machetes was introduced last September, making it illegal to own, make, transport or sell a wide range of "statement" knives favoured by criminal gangs.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Melbourne machete fight triggers urgent weapon ban in Victoria
Listen to article Australia's Victoria state is fast-tracking a ban on the sale of machetes following a violent clash between rival youth gangs at a shopping centre in Melbourne's north, authorities announced on Monday. The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon at Northland shopping centre in Preston, involved up to 10 individuals. Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations David Clayton confirmed that authorities are actively pursuing three additional suspects linked to the violent incident, whose identities are already known to police, according to a report on Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's principal public service broadcaster. Investigators recovered three machetes at the scene and believe a fourth weapon was also used during the altercation. So far, four individuals have been charged in connection with the brawl. Meanwhile, the Victorian government is set to implement a ban on machete sales starting from midday Wednesday. Victoria will become the first state in Australia to ban the sale of machetes, which are broadly defined as knives with blades longer than 20cm. The new law, part of amendments to the Control of Weapons Act, excludes kitchen knives. Emergency services were called to the scene just after 14:30 local time (05:30 BST) on Sunday. Three of the four machetes used have been seized, with the police investigation still ongoing and more arrests expected. In March, Victoria passed new laws targeting the sale and possession of machetes. A three-month amnesty starting in September will allow people to safely surrender their weapons at police stations. Premier Allan contrasted Victoria's swift action with the UK's timeline for a similar ban. "It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on machetes, and we are moving to do it within six months," she said. Police thanked a bystander who restrained one of the alleged attackers until officers arrived, describing his actions as "outstanding", though they urged the public not to intervene in future incidents. In the UK, a ban on so-called "zombie knives" and machetes came into effect in September 2023, making it illegal to manufacture, own, or sell such weapons.
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Victoria Brings Forward Ban on Machete Sales After Violent Knife Brawl
The Allan government's interim ban on the sale of machetes has been brought forward to May 28 following a violent knife fight between rival gangs in Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre. A broader ban on possession will follow on Sept. 1. The measure comes under Commonwealth consumer law, which allows state ministers to impose temporary sales bans on dangerous goods. 'When the interim sale ban is declared on Wednesday, a supplier (e.g. a retailer) must not supply the banned item for sale or possess them with the intent to sell during the banned period,' the government said in a statement. Victoria's move comes after a violent, pre-arranged brawl involving machetes at the Melbourne shopping centre on May 25. Up to 10 individuals clashed around 2:30 p.m., leaving at least one person injured. Related Stories 5/5/2025 5/21/2025 Shoppers hid inside stores as police locked down the centre. Two people, including a 15-year-old boy, were arrested. Authorities allege the confrontation was planned between rival groups. The sale ban will apply to all machetes—defined as knives with blades over 20 centimetres—and excludes kitchen knives. Retailers holding excess stock have been told to store it safely until the start of the disposal, amnesty, and exemption schemes in September. Non-compliance may attract criminal charges. Premier Jacinta Allan said she was determined to keep machetes off Victorian streets. '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,' she said. Possession Ban To Carry Stiff Penalties From Sept. 1, anyone caught with a machete without a valid exemption will face up to two years in prison or fines exceeding $47,000. Exemptions will be available for those with legitimate uses, including farmers and hunters, who must apply for approval. The government acknowledged that some legitimate users would be unable to buy machetes during the interim ban despite qualifying for future exemptions, but insisted public safety must come first. Authorities have seized a record number of knives from the state's streets this year. In response, the state amended the Control of Weapons Act on March 19 to outlaw the sale and possession of machetes. The ban also builds on Australia's strictest bail laws and expanded police powers for random knife searches. 'The purpose of the interim sale ban is to dry up the supply of these items as much as possible before the possession ban comes into place,' the government said. Crackdown Follows Surge in Crime Victoria moved to ban machetes in December 2024, becoming the first state to do so after a spate of violent incidents involving the weapon. The push followed a home invasion in Black Rock, Melbourne, where machete-wielding burglars stole two cars while residents were asleep. Victoria has been grappling with increase in crime. According to police data for the year ending September 2024, overall offences rose by 13.4 percent to 578,762 offences. Among the key contributors are 68,042 car thefts, including stolen number plates and power tools. Retail theft has also risen sharply, driven by inflation and cost-of-living pressures. These new measures are seen as a necessary step in addressing public safety concerns and curbing violent crime in Victoria.
