Retailers scramble to remove stock as Australian-first ban comes into effect
Share and Follow

Victorian retailers are clambering to remove prohibited machetes from store shelves, as an Australian-first ban on the sale of the weapons comes into effect.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the fast-tracked ban on Monday after a terrifying weekend of knife crime saw a Melbourne shopping centre locked down and three alleged youth gang members hospitalised.

Enforced as of midday today, the measures imposes an interim ban on the sale of cutting edge knives with a blade longer than 20 centimetres, excluding kitchenware.

Retailers claim they’ve been left to police an issue they’ve had little part in until now. (Nine)

Under Australian consumer law, such bans can only be put in place on an interim basis, Allan said.

September 1 will mark the beginning of an amnesty period for total machete possession ban statewide.

But concerns surround how the ban will be enforced before then.

The AFP and Victoria Police are collaborating to monitor online sales of blades coming from interstate and overseas.

But local traders claim they’ve been left to police the issue themselves, scrambling to measure stock and take it off the shelves.

“My understanding is that the enforcement in that space – we have retailers that are selling machetes in defiance of the interim ban – that will be something for the Consumer Affairs taskforce to look into,” Victoria Police commander Tim Tully said.

Northland Shopping Centre (Supplied)

Meanwhile, Premier Jacinta Allan has come under fire for previous claims the machete ban could not be brought forward.

The government advised retailers to store excess stock “in a safe location” until the amnesty period begins on September 1.

“We recognise the interim sales ban affects your existing stock and sales – but we must get these knives off shelves, off streets, and out of our lives,” the state government said in a release.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
More than 200 firefighters are struggling to tackle an out-of-control wildfire on Crete — Greece's largest island and a tourist hotspot — as authorities order mass evacuations.

Mass evacuations in Greece as wildfires rage through popular tourist destination

More than 200 firefighters are struggling to tackle an out-of-control wildfire on…

The reason why this new colony of fire ants is a concern for the whole nation

The NSW government has confirmed the detection of a fire ant nest…

Insights into the ‘Significant’ Customer Data Breach at Qantas

Australian airline Qantas has confirmed a “significant” data breach after cybercriminals broke…
Australian aircraft and submarines.

Military experts warn that ADF’s ships, airplanes, and submarines are susceptible to basic drone attacks

Most of the Australian military’s most expensive planes, ships and submarines are…
ghost stores

ACCC warns of fake online stores tricking customers

Australians have been warned about shopping at alleged “ghost stores”, websites which…

Deceptive ‘ghost stores’ deceive Australian shoppers

Australians have been warned to stay alert for “ghost stores” as shoppers…
A man who died in a stabbing outside a home in Sydney's west last night has been identified as 21-year-old Luke Manassa.

Police Suspect Stabbing Incident as Alleged Contract Killing and Potentially a Case of Mistaken Identity

Police have said there is no clear motive for the fatal stabbing…
British tourist and her friend are killed by charging elephant during safari trip

Elephant kills British tourists and friend on safari

An elderly British tourist and her friend from New Zealand were killed…