Vincent Tarzia calls for SA machete ban after Adelaide attacks

The Opposition leader says recent attacks justify the move but the government says there’s a key reason it hasn’t been done.

Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia has called on the state government to ban the sale of machetes, following a spate of attacks in Adelaide in recent months.

On Thursday, three teenagers were charged, including a 17-year-old boy on bail wearing an electronic monitoring device, after the brawl between six youths at the intersection of Rundle Mall and King William Rd, just after 6pm.

One boy, aged just 14, allegedly wielded a machete and CCTV footage from Sushi Hub showed a hooded figure striking another person before giving chase.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher. Picture: Matt Loxton

Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Tarzia said Attorney-General Kyam Maher had the power through the Summary Offences Act to declare certain weapons as “prohibited’’. Items such as bayonets and flick knives are already on the list.

”Only days before our beloved Christmas Pageant, we have seen a terrifying machete attack take place in broad daylight, in the very spot where thousands of South Australian families gathered on Saturday, Mr Tarzia said.

Machetes have also been used in recent attacks in Gulfview Heights and Kilburn.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Maher said such a ban was unneccessary because existing laws already outlawed machestes in public places.

“Under South Australia’s Summary Offence Act, it is an offence to carry an offensive weapon like a machete in a public place, as evidenced by a recent arrest,’’ the spokesperson said. “These offences can carry significant fines and jail time.’’

In July, Mr Maher said the state government was exploring ways to tighten knife laws including raising the minimum age to buy a knife to 18 from 16.

Last week, the Liberals introduced a bill to parliament to ban children from buying knives.

“Last week the Liberals came out with a policy that we’ve already announced, this week they want to outlaw something that is already a crime,’’ the spokesperson said.