Australia’s Victoria state has banned machetes outright, confirming critics’ warnings that gun control was merely the beginning of sweeping government restrictions on citizens’ rights to own tools and weapons.
Key Takeaways
- Victoria, Australia implemented a total ban on machete sales starting May 28, 2025, with a possession ban to follow on September 1, 2025.
- The ban defines machetes as knives with blades longer than 20 centimeters (excluding kitchen knives) and imposes severe penalties: up to 2 years imprisonment and fines up to 47,000 AUD for individuals.
- Retailers face fines up to 200,000 AUD for non-compliance, with no exemptions during the interim sales ban period.
- The ban follows a mall brawl involving machetes but raises significant concerns about government overreach and erosion of civil liberties.
- Critics warn that incremental restrictions on tools and weapons represent a pattern of expanding government control over citizens’ rights.
From Guns to Knives: The Slippery Slope of Weapon Bans
The Allan Labor Government in Victoria, Australia has enacted what many conservatives feared would inevitably follow strict gun control measures: a comprehensive ban on bladed tools. Starting May 28, 2025, the sale of machetes will be completely prohibited in Victoria, with a full possession ban set to take effect on September 1. This sweeping regulation classifies any knife with a blade longer than 20 centimeters as a machete, excluding only kitchen knives from its broad definition. The measure represents a concerning extension of government authority over everyday tools that have legitimate uses for farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and workers in various industries.
The ban comes with severe penalties that highlight the government’s aggressive approach. Individuals caught possessing machetes after the September deadline could face up to two years imprisonment or substantial fines reaching 47,000 AUD. Retailers face even steeper consequences, with potential fines up to 200,000 AUD for non-compliance. During the interim period between the sales ban and possession ban, legitimate users have no exemptions, effectively cutting off access to tools many Australians rely on for their livelihoods. This abrupt implementation leaves farmers, landscapers, and outdoor workers scrambling to find alternatives or prepare to navigate a complex exemption process.
First, Australia banned guns. Now it’s machetes & knives. At this rate, Australia’s going to need a license for a butter knife.
After a recent machete attack in a Melbourne shopping center, the Australian government did what it always does—ban the tool instead of addressing the… pic.twitter.com/lYXpi7YTcj
— Colion Noir (@MrColionNoir) June 10, 2025
Political Posturing Over Practical Solutions
The government’s justification for the ban centers on a recent violent incident in a Melbourne mall involving machete-wielding individuals described as “youth gang members.” Rather than addressing the root causes of youth violence, gang activity, or the social factors driving these issues, officials have opted for the politically expedient solution of banning the tools involved. This approach follows a familiar pattern seen with gun control measures worldwide: using isolated incidents to justify broad restrictions that predominantly affect law-abiding citizens while doing little to address underlying crime problems.
“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,” said Premier Jacinta Allan, revealing an emotional rather than evidence-based approach to public policy.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines proudly connected this ban to other restrictive measures, saying: “We introduced Australia’s toughest bail laws, we’re toughening bail for knife crimes and expanding random knife search powers – now we’re ordering machetes off shelves and banning their possession.” This statement reveals the government’s broader agenda of continuously expanding police powers and restrictions on citizens’ rights in the name of public safety, a concerning trend for those who value civil liberties. The progressive elimination of rights in Victoria follows the exact pattern that Second Amendment advocates in America have long warned about.
Impact on Law-Abiding Citizens
While criminals will likely continue to access and use illegal weapons, the ban creates significant hardships for legitimate users. Workers who rely on machetes for their occupations must navigate a bureaucratic exemption process starting September 1, with no guarantees of approval. Retailers caught in this regulatory web must immediately pull products from shelves and safely store inventory until disposal schemes begin. The government’s acknowledgment of “disruption” to businesses and legitimate users reveals their willingness to impose burdens on law-abiding citizens to create the appearance of addressing crime.
“Machetes are farm implements. As such, most countries don’t classify them as weapons. Most overland travelers carry one in their vehicle, as they are useful tools when off-road, around camp, and for self-defense,” noted Bryon Dorr, GearJunkie Motors Editor, highlighting the practical utility of these tools beyond the government’s narrow focus on their potential as weapons.
For American conservatives, Australia’s machete ban serves as a stark reminder of why the defense of Second Amendment rights remains crucial. The incremental erosion of citizens’ rights to own tools and weapons for self-defense, work, and recreation follows a predictable pattern that begins with “reasonable restrictions” and ends with comprehensive bans. Victoria’s example demonstrates that once a government establishes the precedent of restricting one category of items for “public safety,” that authority inevitably expands to encompass more and more everyday tools, leaving citizens increasingly dependent on government protection rather than empowered to provide for their own security and needs.
