‘Can’t afford to wait’: Victorian opposition moves to fast-track machete ban
Opposition Leader Brad Battin will move to fast-track the Allan government’s machete ban to bring it into effect immediately, in the wake of a spate of terrifying stabbings across the state.
Victoria
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Victoria’s machete ban could be brought forward with the state opposition set to move amendments that would fast-track legislation.
With parliament resuming this week, Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the Coalition will seek to amend the government’s proposed legislation so that the dangerous weapons are immediately banned.
Premier Jacinta Allan last week announced a statewide machete ban as part of a new plan to stamp out rampant crime.
But it won’t come into effect until September 1.
The ban follows a spate of terrifying stabbings across the state, including an attack on Friday night which claimed the life of a 24-year-old man.
The Clyde man was sitting in his car outside Marriott Waters Shopping Centre in Lyndhurst when a group of about 10 armed males surrounded him about 8.30pm.
Police believe a dispute occurred before the man was chased down, cornered and stabbed several times in a loading dock at the shopping complex. He died at The Alfred hospital later that night.
Once the ban comes into force, those caught with a machete, who do not have an exemption, will face jail terms or fines of more than $47,000.
A three-month amnesty will run from September 1 to November 30 to allow for the safe disposal of prohibited weapons in bins at a range of outdoor locations including at police stations.
Mr Battin said Victorians couldn’t afford to wait nine months to stop the sale, importing or access of the weapons.
“Delaying the implementation to prohibit machetes will only result in more home invasions, more carjackings and sadly, more murders,” he said on Sunday.
“Victorians are tired of a too little too late Premier who only acts when the state is at breaking point.
“If the Premier followed the advice of the police when first elected as Premier, Victoria would already have tougher bail laws, machetes banned and our communities would be safer. Premier Allan’s decision to ignore that advice has seen record increases in crime across Victoria.”
A government spokesman said they wouldn’t bring forward their ban on machetes, warning immediate action could risk public safety.
“You have to ensure safe knife disposal if you’re serious about this. Banning them overnight risks random drop-offs, that’s why we’re working with the police to set up secure bins in key areas,” he said.
“Brad Battin is just back from holidays and he’s already moving the goalposts again. The Liberals need to stop playing games with the safety of Victorians and back these tough new laws in.”
Last week, Ms Allan called on major retailers to stop placing stock orders for machetes.
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Originally published as ‘Can’t afford to wait’: Victorian opposition moves to fast-track machete ban
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