Jacinta Allan Says Machete Ban Working After Knife Murder on Weekend

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has hailed the success of the government’s machete ban after another machete attack took place on the weekend.

An 18-year-old man died on Sept. 27 after he was allegedly stabbed in Morwell in the Gippsland region.  A 20-year-old man was also injured and taken to hospital.

Police charged two teenagers, aged 16 and 19, with alleged murder and intentionally causing serious injury on Sept. 29.

Allan expressed her condolences to the family of the man who lost his life but talked up the success of the machete ban.

“The ban on machetes, the ban on possession of machetes, is already working. In just the first month alone, more than 6,000 of these dangerous weapons have been passed through the machete disposal process,” she told reporters.

“And then when you add that to the more than 11,000 knives and dangerous weapons Victorian Police have seized, particularly as a result of those expanded stop and search knife powers, we are seeing measures like this work.”

Allan said the Morwell tragedy underscored the importance of the government’s machete ban and the need to stop young people from carrying weapons.

“The loss of another young life on the weekend as a result of knife crime, as a result of young people carrying these dangerous deadly weapons, is a reminder of not only the importance of banning the machetes, getting them off our streets, but also that there is further work to do to work with young kids, to say don’t carry these dangerous weapons because quite clearly they are deadly,” she said.

“My thoughts are with the family of that young man who has lost his life in Gippsland on the weekend in Morwell. It’s another difficult time for the family, for the community, and our thoughts are with them.”

Victoria’s machete ban makes it illegal to carry, transport, sell or buy machetes, with penalties of up to two years of jail and $47,000 fines.

Victorians have until Nov. 30 to voluntarily surrender machetes safely and anonymously at disposal bins across the state. After this date, penalties will apply for simply possessing such a machete.

Former Premier Says Allan’s Policy ‘Not Working’

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett weighed in on the situation with a post to X on Sept. 29.

“Sadly, the Premier’s refusal to accept responsibility for continuing murders, and criminal acts fly in the face of reality,” Kennett said.

“Another young person murdered on Saturday night, youths threatening shoppers in [Bourke Street Mall]. Her policies are not working, and have no chance of doing so until she and the police minister start saying it as it is.”

Four teenagers were arrested on Sept. 29 after a police chase ending in Bourke Street Mall in the city in Melbourne. A woman was injured and taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police said the incident did not involve weapons.

Opposition leader Brad Battin pointed to the incident as another example of the crime crisis in Victoria and a shattered system.

“Yesterday’s crime spree by repeat-offending teens is proof that under Labor the system is broken. Reports that some of these young offenders have previously escaped jail despite violent offending is sadly of no surprise,” Battin said.

“Fixing the crime crisis isn’t just about deterrence and punishment—it’s about prevention: giving at-risk individuals the support, discipline, education, counselling and community backing they need to turn their lives around.”

Battin highlighted the Opposition’s plan to address the crime crisis included youth programs and break bail, face jail laws.

“Our approach is grounded in consequences, personal responsibility, respect for victims’ rights, the rule of law and fiscal discipline—values the Liberals and Nationals carry into the fight against the crime wave engulfing our state,” Battin said.