State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has labelled the machete amnesty a waste of money in his electorate.
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At an estimated cost of $13 million, Victoria’s machete amnesty is a waste of money in the electorate of Murray Plains, according to MP Peter Walsh.
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Echuca Police Station is among more than 40 stations across the state to receive a machete disposal bin following a complete ban of the weapons on September 1.
Mr Walsh questioned why the station received a bin when the area does not have a machete-violence problem, at a cost estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Make no mistake, something has to be done about the use of machetes as gang weapons, in home invasions and in carjackings — in Melbourne,” he said.
“The controls should be around the metro-based areas where they are being misused, not in the country areas where we do not have a problem and they are used for the right reasons.”
The ban outlaws owning, carrying, using, buying or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval.
Penalties for machete offences can now result in two years imprisonment, or fines of up to $47,000, which Police Minister Anthony Carbines endorsed.
“Anyone carrying a machete will face tough consequences,” he said.
“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.”
An amnesty is active in Victoria until November 30, encouraging anyone to dispose of their machetes anonymously at a designated bin.
Mr Carbines told the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee $13 million had been allocated for a machete surrender scheme on June 5.
Part of an inquiry into the 2025/26 budget estimates, the funding was earmarked for the safe disposal bins and a public awareness campaign.
Mr Walsh was sceptical about how effective the scheme would be, considering the bins were at police stations and under video surveillance.
The machete disposal bin at Echuca Police Station is under constant video surveillance.
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“A bin in front of a police station with CCTV is nothing but a PR stunt,” he said.
“The $13 million could be used to fill police vacancies in my electorate so there are more police on the beat to protect Victorians from violent attacks and theft.”
Further details on exemptions and the locations of the disposal are available at vic.gov.au/machete-amnesty
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