Victoria's Machete Crisis

A Victoria-wide machete sale ban was imposed midday on May 28th, prompted by a gang-related youth machete brawl at Northland Shopping Centre days prior.

(Credit: Adobe Stock)

Youth crime rates are on the rise in Victoria, with children aged 10-17 committing over 24,000 offences in 2024, as reported by The Age. This is up 33 per cent from 2015, where Crime Statistics Victoria recorded over 18,000 incidents involving a youth offender.  

Youth machete attacks are also on a concerning incline, with the most recent incident allegedly involving a gang of under-18-year-olds at Northland Shopping Centre on May 25.

Following the attack, Premier Jacinta Allen fast-tracked a state-wide ban on the sale of machetes to lower the risk of further attacks and ease the anxiety of Victorians.

Allan said in a press conference that the sale ban will "choke the supply" of the illegal weapons until possession of the long knives becomes illegal under Victorian law on September 1.

"We have been working incredibly hard to bring about Australia's first machete ban," Premier Allan said.

"These knives are dangerous weapons and have no place on our streets… and that is why I will introduce as many laws to get these dangerous knives off the streets."

With this ban, many stores such as Aussie Disposals must halt sales of over-20 cm bladed machetes.

The Australian knife market was valued at over $108 million in 2024, a number which will inevitably drop.

Witness of the Northland youth brawl, Bec James, said it was a “pretty intense, traumatic experience”.

(Northland brawl witness, Bec James. Credit: Evan Fleming)

"I looked up and saw absolute chaos… I had my two children with me and we just ran away from all the screams and sounds of danger, as the extent of the threat was not immediately clear," she said.

Some critics say this ban is long overdue, as possession of an illegal weapon on Victorian streets has surged in recent years, with the presence and accessibility of machetes enabling youth crime.  

Doouge and George Defence Lawyers describe the government action as a “broader strategy to address community concerns about youth crime”.

Victoria Police data shows a 161 per cent increase in edged weapon assaults at shopping centres since 2014.

Chief Commissioner, Rick Nugent, said Victorian police “confiscated more than 15,000 edged-weapons in 2024”. A record number for the state.

Following government action, retail giant Amazon Australia has confirmed the discontinuation of machete sales to the whole country.

Despite these actions to curb aggressive behaviour, the latest machete incidents and subsequent bans have acted as a catalyst for protest and further attacks.

Just a week after the traumatic brawl, a group of white supremacists were spotted outside of Northland Shopping Centre protesting against the ban.

In an interview with News.com, witnesses claim there were "no police in sight", causing Victorian civilians to continue pushing for more action against pro-machete acts.

Caroline Springs Shopping Centre was also forced into lockdown due to a machete incident allegedly involving a group of teens on June 7.

From September 1, possible fines of over $47,000 or up to two years prison time will apply if a person is caught with a prohibited weapon.

The implementation of the ban and accompanying consequences will prove successful once Victoria experiences a decrease in youth crime and weapon violence rates.

If you or anyone else has information or witnessed machete crime, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers website.