Victoria’s ban on machetes is now in effect.
From 1 September to 30 November 2025, an amnesty period allows Victorians to surrender machetes without penalty.
It is now illegal to own, use, carry, transport, sell, or buy a machete in Victoria unless you have a valid exemption or approval.
Penalties for unlawful possession include:
- Up to 2 years in prison, or
- Fines exceeding $47,000.
The Victorian Government has provided limited exemptions for some sectors, including agriculture and traditional, cultural, and historical use.
SSAA Victoria has advocated strongly for a reasonable exemption for hunters and for clearer wording of the “traditional, cultural and historical use” exemption, which is currently vague and risks causing unintentional non-compliance. We are disappointed that both of these reasonable proposals have been ignored, but we will continue to press the Government to amend the current arrangements to reflect the practical realities faced by hunters and lawful machete users.