Victoria will fast-track a ban on the sale of machetes after a violent fight involving the knives at Melbourne’s Northland shopping centre. The state government had initially planned to introduce laws in September that would make it an offence to sell or supply machetes and other bladed weapons. However, following the recent attack, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that he would bring forward the legislation.
Incident Overview
- The decision comes after two gangs clashed at the shopping centre in Preston on Sunday afternoon.
- A 20-year-old man remains in hospital with serious injuries.
- Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner David Clayton described the attack as a planned fight between rival youth gangs.
- No innocent bystanders were hurt, but youth knife crime, while rare, is considered frightening in Victoria.
Police Response
- Police seized three out of four machetes used during the attack.
- One person was taken into custody, while others fled when emergency services arrived.
- Two boys, aged 16 and 15, were charged with affray and related offences.
- Two men were arrested for allegedly possessing or using firearms during the incident and are being interviewed by detectives.
Government Action
Premier Andrews stated, “We can’t have people carrying these sorts of weapons around our shopping centres – we can’t have them carried around our streets.” He emphasized that the legislation is not just about the Northland Shopping Centre but aims to "choke off supply" to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Andrews has faced pressure from opposition parties to take action against knife crime, especially since last year’s stabbing death of a teenager outside Melbourne’s Flinders Street station, which sparked widespread outrage over rising violence among young people.
Future Measures
In response to criticism regarding his government’s handling of knife crime, Andrews has promised:
- Tougher laws: Including stricter penalties for those convicted of carrying knives.
- Support for youth: Greater assistance for young people struggling with mental health issues or social isolation, which may contribute to violent behaviour.
Ongoing Investigation
On Monday morning, police confirmed the arrest of another man in connection with the violence at Northland Shopping Centre, bringing the total number of arrests to five men aged between 18-25 years old. Authorities are still investigating whether any firearms were involved in the clash, although none have been found yet.
Community Response
Northland Shopping Centre management expressed their shock at the incident, stating, “We understand that this incident has caused concern for many members within our community. We want to assure everyone affected by this incident that we take incidents like this very seriously.”
A spokesperson for the Australian Retailers Association commented, “Retailers across Australia are deeply concerned about public safety incidents such as yesterday’s tragic events at Northland Shopping Centre.”
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