Machetes will be banned in Victoria effective immediately in an Australian-first following a violent weekend in Melbourne.
The weapons will be banned for sale from midday on Wednesday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced early on Monday morning.
The interim ban will expire when machetes are officially classified as a prohibited weapon under new legislation on September 1.
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Allan’s snap announcement follows a violent weekend in Melbourne, with two major incidents involving the use of machetes.
A woman was shot dead by police on Saturday evening after police responded to reports of a man wielding a machete in South Melbourne.
As police were arresting the man a car was driven at one of the officers, with police responding by shooting at the car.
The female driver, aged 26, died at the scene.
On Sunday Northland Shopping Centre was plunged into lockdown following a brawl between 10 people that resulted in multiple people being stabbed.
A 20-year-old man was injured in the fight and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Two other males, one with injuries, later self-presented to hospital.
Video footage of the incident emerged showing one person lunging at several others with a large machete.
On Monday morning Allan condemned the two events.
“I want to be absolutely clear that here in the state of Victoria community safety comes first and we have seen over the weekend two incidents in both South Melbourne and Northland Shopping Centre that were appalling and I condemn particularly at Northland Shopping Centre yesterday,” she said.
“My thoughts are with everyone who has been touched by these incidents over the weekend.
“That’s why we have been working incredibly hard to bring about Australia’s first machete ban.”
