‘Machete amnesty’ announced by state government in Australia before total ban takes effect

Australia’s Victorian Government has set up a “machete amnesty” in support of disposing machetes safely from Sept. 1 until November, as the southeastern state becomes the first to carry out a ban on the weapons.

Machetes will be criminalized in Victoria on Sept. 1, following a series of violent knife crimes and home invasions, Sky News Australia reported.

“Owning, carrying, using, buying, or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval will be a criminal offence,” a statement from the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan reads. This could lead to jail time of up to two years, or fines of up to AUD$47,000 (CAD$41,000).

Multiple police stations in the state will become drop-off points for the soon-to-be-illegal weapons, according to the government website.

Amazon.com has also removed machetes for purchase in Australia, the statement says.

“These knives destroy lives – so we’re taking them off the streets,” Allan says in the statement.

Read more: CTV News