Machete ban

Understand the upcoming changes to carrying, owning, using, and selling machetes in Victoria, the Machete Amnesty, and current sales ban.

From 1 September 2025, machetes will be classified as prohibited weapons in Victoria. A Machete Amnesty will run from 1 September to 30 November 2025 to support safe disposal of machetes.

There is currently an interim machete sales ban in place.

Machete ban and Machete Amnesty

As of 1 September, it will be illegal to own, use, buy, sell or transport machetes. There will be some machete-related exemptions in place.

A Machete Amnesty will run from 1 September to 30 November 2025 to support the safe disposal of machetes.

Learn more about the ban, penalties, and what classifies as a machete.

Information about machete exemptions and approvals can be found on vic.gov.au.

A full list of machete-related exemptions is listed in the Governor In Council Exemption Orders.

If an exemption doesn’t apply but there is a legitimate reason to keep or use machete, you can apply for Chief Commissioner of Police approval.

Machete sales ban

As of Wednesday, 28 May 2025, you cannot sell a machete in Victoria or to someone in Victoria.

This ban was made under the Australian Consumer Law and came into effect from 12 midday on Wednesday 28 May 2025.

Interim sales ban specifics

The interim ban applies to all machetes, being large broad-bladed cutting knives and is a ban of all sales of machetes in or into Victoria, both in store and online.

There are no exemptions while the interim ban is in place.

Later this year, legislation will come into effect to introduce a permanent ban on the possession, use, and sale of machetes in Victoria under Control of Weapons laws.

More information is available on the Consumer Affairs website.

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