A ban on carrying machetes could be brought forward as the sale of the weapons becomes outlawed, following a violent brawl at a shopping centre.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the three-month amnesty period could begin earlier if locked disposal boxes at 40 police station are ready before the deadline.
Shoppers and workers ran for their lives when a wild fight broke out between rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s north on Sunday.
Following the brawl, Ms Allan brought forward the initial September deadline to ban machete sales, with the premier also indicating that the ban on possessing the weapons could also be imminent
“If Victoria Police come to us and indicate that the arrangements have been put in place in that way, my door will always be open to any measure that strengthens community safety,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
Ms Allan defended her government’s tougher bail laws when asked if she was disturbed about the alleged offenders being on bail at the time of the attack and being bailed since.
“My message to everyone across the justice system is that community safety has been placed first in all bail-making decisions,” she said.
“It is my expectation that law that has passed through the parliament be put in practice.”
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of Victoria’s bail laws, after it was revealed at least four people charged over it were already out on bail.
The final arrest was made on Tuesday night after which an 18-year-old man was charged with affray and weapons offences.
The Thornhill Park man was remanded to appear in Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The other arrests made by police this week include an 18-year-old man from Derrimut and a 21-year-old man from Kew, who suffered head injuries during the clash.
Police also arrested and charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, from Darebin and Melton, and two men, aged 20, and 21, from Thornbury and Bundoora. All were already on bail.
Police at first believed there were eight people involved in the fight, which lasted about two minutes, before narrowing it down to seven.
Harsher bail laws came into effect in April to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts.
The effectiveness of the laws has been questioned by the state opposition and police union.
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said he would introduce a private members bill in the lower house calling for a total and immediate statewide ban.
“The bill introduced today will make our streets safer, it will remove these dangerous weapons off the streets and protect Victorians now – not later,” he said.
Source: AAP
