Suburbs Under Siege: Vic Premier says ‘zero reason for people to be carrying incredibly dangerous weapons without reason’

Thugs caught carrying machetes will face jail or fines of more than $47,000 and police will be given extra powers to conduct random searches under the Allan government’s latest measures to tackle the crime crisis.

Jail terms of up to two years will be introduced for Victorians caught carrying machetes in the Allan government’s latest salvo in its crime crackdown.

Search powers will also be massively expanded to allow police to conduct random and targeted weapons searches in designated areas for periods of six months.

Details of the statewide machete ban, first revealed by the Herald Sun, will be unveiled by Jacinta Allan on Thursday in her bid to curb rampant crime.

Under new laws to be put to parliament, jail terms or fines of more than $47,000 will apply from September 1 for those caught carrying machetes.

A three-month amnesty will also run from that date to allow the punishment-free disposal of prohibited weapons in secure bins at a range of outdoor locations including at police stations.

After this time, exemptions would only be available in limited circumstances to allow the possession of machetes including for hunting and agriculture.

Mark Knight on Jacinta Allan's crime crackdown.

The definition of a machete is still being worked out, but the ban is likely to target knives with blades longer than 20cm.

“There’s zero reason for people to be carrying these incredibly dangerous weapons around without reason – so we’ll ban them,” Ms Allan said.

The Premier said she would also push the federal government to implement a national ban on the weapons and would raise concerns about import activity.

She also said the government would massively increase the ability for police to conduct random weapons searches.

Current laws limit officers to conducting random weapons searches within designated search areas for up to 12 hours.

But they must have a certain level of information about the likelihood of weapons violence ­before declaring a designated area.

They can’t return to the area within 10 days and must advertise planned searches.

CCTV of a home invasion in Black Rock, showing a male with a machete. Picture: Supplied

Under the proposed changes the chief commissioner would be able to declare a location a designated search area for up to six months.

“We’ll always give police what they need to keep Victorians safe,” Ms Allan said.

“We’ll build on the extra powers we’ve already given them and help members search for more knives.”

“This builds on our toughest bail laws in the country, ensuring community safety is above all else and there are strict consequences for breaking the rules.”

It comes a day after Ms Allan issued a rare public apology to victims of crime for the worsening crisis that has prompted radical intervention.

It includes winding back bail laws, implemented by Ms Allan in October 2023, to make it harder for courts to free both youth and adult offenders.

Tougher bail tests are set to be applied for a raft of new offences including committing an offence involving controlled weapons, including machetes.

Using prohibited and offensive weapons, including baseball bats and kitchen knives, will also attract the tougher tests.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines will work with other jurisdictions to halt importations of the dangerous weapons over the Victorian border.

Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent said police had seized close to 15,000 edged weapons in the past 12 months.

“That’s more than any other period in the past decade,” he said.

“Three homicides that have been committed in the past six months involved the use of machetes.

“The evidence is clear.

“We have far too many machetes in this state, and there are far too many incidents of their use.”

The Victorian government will run an advertising campaign to ensure Victorians and retailers understand the new rules.

A store worker being threatened with a machete in Werribee. Picture: Supplied.

The government has for more than a year resisted calls to implement a statewide machete ban in a move that had divided the Labor caucus.

Police were given sweeping new powers to stop the sale of machetes to youth gang members in March last year.

New laws made it illegal to possess a machete without a lawful reason, or to sell them to children.

Despite the laws, police last year seized 40 weapons a day from Victorian streets – the biggest haul in a decade.

A record 14,797 knives, swords, daggers, and machetes were seized throughout the year, renewing calls for a tougher weapons crackdown.

Shadow police minister David Southwick said machetes should have been outlawed 471 days ago when the Coalition first tried to introduce a ban.

“Let’s think about all of the crimes that have happened in Victoria in the 471 days,” he said.

“The Liberal-Nationals have had four attempts at trying to get a ban on machetes. Jacinta Allan has ignored them.”

He accused Ms Allan of “compromising the safety of all Victorians” and announcing “policy on the run”.

Mr Carbines on Thursday dodged multiple questions about why Labor had blocked several attempts by the Coalition to ban the weapons, claiming the government takes its “advice form Victoria Police, not from the opposition”.