Geelong community members who own a machete will be legally allowed to dispose of the weapon safely as a statewide ban comes into effect.
Safe disposal bins will be available at Geelong and Corio’s police stations during the state’s Machete Amnesty period, from September 1 to November 30.
Premier Jacinta Allan said that owning, carrying, using, buying and selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval will be a criminal offence from September 1.
“These knives destroy lives; so, we’re taking them off the streets,” she said.
“Victorians have zero tolerance for knife crime and so do we, so we’re enacting this ban and boosting Victoria Police’s powers because community safety always comes first.”
The heavy-duty steel disposal bins will be close to 900 millimetres by 1200 millimetres in size, with a 70 millimetre concrete base to ensure the bins are secure and allow for safe removal of the weapons.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the safe disposal bins would allow people to hand in a machete without penalties during the amnesty period.
“Our message to anyone with these weapons is simple; get rid of them or face the consequences,” he said.
“We’re backing Victoria Police who work tirelessly to get these weapons out of young people’s hands and keep people safe.”
The machete ban will build on the state government’s new laws to end knife crime, including strengthening the bail test for knife offences and increasing stop-and-search powers for Victoria Police.
