A disposal bin for machetes is now open at Wangaratta Police Station as the state government ban on the weapon began this week.
Owning, carrying, using, buying or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval is an offence, with penalties including up to two years imprisonment or a fine of more than $47,000.
Exemptions apply for specific use, including for agricultural workers who use machetes as part of their job and for machetes that have a genuine traditional, historical, or cultural significance.
Machete bins have opened at 40 police stations across the state this week, including one in Wangaratta, where the public can safely surrender machetes during a three month amnesty period, to run until 30 November.
Police stations without the bins can also accept the weapons over the counter.
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“This is just one of the many new laws that we’re implementing to back the work of Victoria Police, including Australia’s toughest bail test,” Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said.
The state government placed an interim ban the sale of machetes in May.
Further details on exemptions and the locations of the disposal are available at vic.gov.au/machete-amnesty.
