The South Australian Government will impose further restrictions on machetes and swords from today, with tough new laws aimed at tackling knife crime.
From 1 July, children under 18 in the State will not be able to buy dangerous knives under any circumstances – raising the age of purchase from 16 years of age, while machetes and swords will now be classified as prohibited weapons.
This will mean it is an offence to manufacture, sell, distribute, supply, or otherwise deal in, or use or have possession of, a machete or sword, carrying a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years imprisonment.
“We have acted swiftly and decisively in response to incidents interstate to prepare the strongest laws in the country to protect our community from the menace of knife crime,” said Attorney General, Kyam Maher.
“By reclassifying machetes and swords as prohibited weapons, and preventing minors from buying knives, we are delivering common sense reforms that will better protect the community.”
The reforms are part of phase two of knife crime law reforms, ensuring the state has the toughest knife laws in the country.
The laws also expand existing offences around the possession of knives and offensive weapons at schools and public places to cover more education facilities such as childcare centres, preschools, universities and TAFE SA campuses, and places of worship.
People should check whether their possession of swords or machetes will remain lawful and, if not, surrender to a local police station – except for Hindley or Grenfell Street – during the three-month surrender period from 1 July 2025.
These new laws build upon the first round of reforms which gave police stronger powers to conduct metal detector searches.
“Raising the age of sale from 16 to 18 will proactively disrupt knife crime and help reduce the number of these weapons getting into the hands of young people,” said SA Police Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support Service Narelle Kameniar.
“We will build on the extra search powers already granted to police and welcome the additional changes, which see swords and machetes prescribed as prohibited weapons.
“People in possession of these now prohibited weapons (without a legislated exemption) should surrender them to their nearest police station – except for Hindley or Grenfell Street – and may do so anonymously during the three-month surrender period.
“These changes provide police with extra tools to prevent crime, take weapons off our streets, and to keep the community safe,” she said.
Places that can now be declared to enable police to conduct metal detector searches include public transport hubs and shopping centre precincts.
For more information visit the South Australia Police website at: police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/firearms-and-weapons/weapons(external site) or call 131 444.
