The Opposition is calling on Labor to act to outlaw machetes following a number of violent assaults including a shocking machete attack in the Rundle Mall in broad daylight only days before the Christmas Pageant.
The Summary Offences Act allows the Attorney General to declare certain weapons “prohibited”. Currently weapons such as bayonets, flick-knives and nunchakus are prohibited but not machetes despite a terrifying spate of recent attacks across the State such as:
- A terrifying machete attack in the Rundle Mall in broad daylight on 31 October 2024 that saw the arrests of teens aged 14, 15 and 17.
- A Gulfview Heights home invasion on 9 October 2024 by a gang armed with machetes that left two needing surgery.
- A Kilburn home invasion on 29 September 2024 by a gang of up to 15 machete-wielding thugs who went on a rampage through the property.
- An Eyre home invasion on 27 September 2024 by three people armed with machetes that saw a teenager slashed across his forehead.
Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia MP said it was clear that Labor had lost control when it comes to law and order.
“We simply cannot afford to wait for Labor to take action on crime. Only days before our beloved Christmas Pageant, we have seen a terrifying machete attack take place in broad daylight, in the very spot where thousands of South Australian families gathered on Saturday, Mr Tarzia said.
“Crime is on the rise leaving countless victims in its wake and Labor seems to be doing nothing about it.
“If the Malinauskas Government won’t take action to keep South Australians safe, we will. This is the second time in a matter of days it has been left up to the Liberal Opposition to take law and order into its own hands. It is clear this Government is not up to the job.”
Shadow Minister for Community Safety and Police, Jack Batty, said Labor needed to act urgently to outlaw machetes.
“The Attorney could outlaw machetes with the stroke of a pen. Why wait? I can’t think of a single good reason for kids needing to be wielding machetes in Rundle Mall.
“We have seen too many examples in the last couple of months of violent assaults involving machetes. We need stronger laws before this situation gets any worse.
“We need to do everything we can to address this problem, particularly when we don’t have enough police because Labor has failed to adequately to recruit, retain and resource our frontline officers.
“When was the last time we saw Labor do anything about our skyrocketing crime? Car races and Katy Perry concerts are nice to have, but community safety we need to have.
“Only the Liberals care about stopping this crime wave and making our communities safer. If the Malinauskas Labor Government won’t act, then we will.”
Last week the Opposition introduced legislation into the Parliament to ban children buying knives in line with measures taken interstate, following months of inaction from Labor.
