Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:59): (2063) My adjournment is for the Premier. The action I seek is for the government to acknowledge that the recent Victorian machete amnesty surrendered weapons statistics show that it has been not the criminals handing in the majority of machetes but the retailers. Three-quarters of knives handed in came from retailers, so it is clear that the minister must commit to regulating the commercial availability of dangerous weapons, including extending current bans on knives over 30 centimetres to cover shorter knives, which can be just as dangerous. Perhaps we are also going to need to consider the role of tools. However, it is also clear that the bins are not eradicating violent crimes with weapons in Victoria. From 1 to 12 September, Victorians disposed of 1362 machetes and other dangerous knives at designated disposal bins located at 45 police stations across the state. These bins were made available to the public to encourage the safe and anonymous surrender of illegal dangerous weapons. With 1362 machetes and the overall cost of the bin program being $13 million, that is over $9500 per machete.

However, what is particularly striking is that during the same period, major retailers handed in 3400 machetes, more than double the number surrendered by individuals. This figure raises important questions about who is distributing these weapons in our communities. These statistics show the proliferation of machetes is not just a matter of criminal possession but also one of commercial supply. The fact that retailers have reportedly surrendered thousands of these knives, double the number surrendered by the community, in the initial two-week period highlights the scale at which these weapons have been circulating, legally and perhaps irresponsibly, through retail channels.

The government’s push for a national ban on the sale and possession of machetes is touted as an effective strategy, but there are many problems around the amnesty, and the main one is that criminals, which this amnesty was designed for, are not the ones that are actually handing them in. This is obvious, because daily we are still hearing about machete attacks. It is clear that legislative reform must address not only the end users but also the supply chain. I urge the Premier to consider the implications of these figures. We must ensure that future policy not only deters criminal possession but also regulates the commercial availability of weapons that have no legitimate place in our communities.