THE safe disposal bin for machetes is currently being delivered to Wonthaggi Police Station but it hasn’t been without its hiccups this morning, with the bin lying on the ground as delivery personnel were assisted by nearby security in attempting to move the bin into its new location.
The 40 bins are expected to be in operation from September 1 and will be available until November 30, 2025, with those found from September 1 in possession of a machete without exemption incurring a fine of more than $47,000 or up to two years in prison.
The rolling out of the bins has been met with much controversy, not least the price tag per bin, which Victorians have broken down to $325,000* each, and comes as police face budget cuts and a failing justice system that has seen, particularly youth offenders, continuously bailed.
*The state government announced $13 million towards the machete ban amnesty program. It's understood this budget includes public awareness, retailer education, managing exemptions for the ban and manufacturing and installation of the safe disposal bins, as well as the secure collection and destruction of the items that are handed in. However, local residents, and those across Victoria, have taken issue with the exorbitant cost for the program, breaking it down to $325,000 per bin.
