VICTORIA TAKES AIM AT MACHETE MENACE: Thousands of deadly blades surrendered as government pushes for NATIONAL BAN on sale and possession
- Over 1,386 machetes and dangerous knives collected from 45 safe disposal bins across Victoria in just two weeks
- Police Minister Anthony Carbines vows to push for national ban at meeting of police ministers later this month
- Opposition claims government has cut funding for youth crime prevention programs, sparking heated debate over crime crisis
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – In a major crackdown on knife crime, the Victorian government has collected thousands of deadly machetes and knives during a two-week amnesty, with authorities now pushing for a national ban on the sale and possession of these dangerous weapons.
According to Police Minister Anthony Carbines, a staggering 1,386 machetes and knives were surrendered at 45 safe disposal bins across the state, with a further 3,500 handed in by retailers. This alarming haul comes as authorities struggle to combat the growing menace of knife crime, which has claimed numerous lives in Victoria in recent months.
“We will again be pressing our colleagues interstate to pick up on the machete amnesty and ban that is working effectively here in Victoria, to see that take place nationally,” Carbines declared, vowing to push for a national ban at a meeting of police ministers later this month.
The government’s move comes amidst a heated debate over the state’s crime crisis, with the opposition claiming that funding for youth crime prevention programs has been slashed. “We are in the grips of a crime crisis and Victorians don’t feel safe in their own homes,” opposition leader Brad Battin said, warning that the government’s cuts would only exacerbate the problem.
However, Carbines disputed the opposition’s claims, insisting that crime prevention funding had actually increased from $12 million to $15 million in the last budget. “I don’t accept that there are cuts. What I do accept is that the budget papers demonstrate an increase in community crime prevention funding,” he said.
Despite the government’s assurances, concerns remain over the impact of funding cuts on community crime prevention initiatives. Blake Edwards, from The Youth Junction, a youth crime prevention organisation based in Sunshine, claimed that his service and partner organisations had seen their funding reduced, resulting in the loss of at least 19 full-time roles working in youth case management and crime prevention initiatives.
“When you’re working with highly skilled, highly experienced practitioners, who are providing services on the ground, it means that they never have job security,” Edwards warned, highlighting the devastating consequences of funding cuts on vulnerable young people.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the menace of machete crime must be addressed urgently. With thousands of deadly blades already surrendered, the government’s push for a national ban marks a crucial step towards reclaiming Victoria’s streets from the grip of violence.