New Australian Knife Laws

[feeny]

Well put Nick.

I am yet to understand why the existing laws that punish venues for fuelling people with too much alcohol are not being properly enforced. If the venues that got these people so stupidly drunk in the first place that they ended up going off and assaulting people were penalised as the act calls for (which they never ever are...) perhaps they would actually obey the laws and not serve more alcohol to people already hopelessly drunk. Hit them with a 3 strikes and you are shut rule and the town wold start to clean itself up. We have venues here still running at which several people have been killed.. still allowed to operate. If I ran my workplace like that I'd be in jail.... unbelievable.

Every place one can buy alcohol in town has a prominent sign on display informing all and sundry that it is an offence to serve alcohol to a person already drunk. Been that way for nearly a decade... just noone getting done for that... and I remain convinced that drugs and alcohol are at the cause of night time violence in the CBD... **** if they weren't people would be getting stabbed in the light of day too surely.

For the sake of completeness - the act is clear:
(4) A licensee or permittee-
(a) must not supply liquor to a person who is in a state of intoxication;
(b) must not permit drunken or disorderly persons to be on the licensed
premises or on any authorised premises.

Penalty: 120 units (thats $14,000)

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is in a state of intoxication if
his or her speech, balance, co-ordination or behaviour is noticeably affected
and there are reasonable grounds for believing that this is the result of the
consumption of liquor.

This has been the law since 1998... I remain convinced that any venue fined $14,000 (and some should be!) would clean itself up .. or after a few fines be forced to close down.

[feeny]

...forgot to mention that I can see the spyderco Aussie now...

caged ball lock, cpms30v, titanium liners... with a bottle opener.. fully rounded edges.. err all round. Completely legal for carry in Australia.

Could be worse and need to be non-locking I guess...

[Dagon]

Hi all,

I found this nearly one year old thread which is relevant to me, as I might be going on holiday in Australia.
In essence, what is the current status regarding carrying knives in New South Wales and Victoria? I currently thought of bringing one of the larger Victorinox swiss knives, and keeping it in my small backpack (or in a Fatboy), together with camera, travel-guide, some food etc. So, I wouldn't be carrying it on myself (if that makes a legal difference).
As it seems that Australia is quite strict on knives, I was wondering if this kind of carry is allowed for a tourist? To me it seems like justified use, but what do I know.
Comments?

Also, regarding the Victorinox, I have both the old 2-hand opening Rücksack and a modern one-hand opening Forester. Both are locking. Are there specific laws against locking or one-hand opening folders? I could bring my classic small Soldier, but it's really a bit small for food.

ps I would not be bringing one of my beloved Spydercos because they may scare more than an utilitarian swiss folder.

[Armalite Native]

Hi Dagon,

Good luck with your trip and I hope you enjoy your stay. A word of caution: beware taking your Swiss with your onboard. I have had nail clippers confiscated before cause they included a nail blade.

As to carry laws it differs from state to state. Victoria has the harshest laws (similar to Canada or the UK) NSW is not so bad. I know that in Victoria it is legal to carry any knife as long as it is not a prohibited make (auto, ballisong, Dagger) and you have a valid lawful reason if searched as to why you are carrying it. Self defence is not considered a lawful excuse. Food prep, craft taks, camping ect will normally be ok as a reason (as long as you have the food, craft gear or camping stuff with you (while camping).

The media here is beating up on knife crime at the moment so I would use caution.
Other users might be able to give you specifics on NSW but it can't be worse than Victoria.

Good luck,
A

[ChrisR]

That actually sounds a lot stronger/worse than the UK, where you are allowed to carry any non-locking, folding, pocket knife with a cutting edge not exceeding 3-inches without any reason - ie. true EDC. The law in Victoria is how it stands in the UK for all other types of knife (fixed blade, locker, longer blade etc.).

[Tsujigiri]

Sorry to hear that, sounds worse than Germany!
I really look forward to moving to Austria, where they don't have stringent anti-knife legislation yet (!).

cheer up, mates! However, it's bound to get worse! :mad:

What are the knife laws in Germany?

[sal]

I just heard two weeks ago that Austrlia is planning to outlaw one hand openers as well. We are currently working on a design that would be acceptable for their new laws.

Hi Tsugigiri,

Germany has been changing laws often for the past 5 or 6 years. First butterfly's went, then autos, Now it's one hand open non locking or two hand open locking with, I believe, 3 inch blades and 12 CM blade for fixed blades.

sal

[Tsujigiri]

I just heard two weeks ago that Austrlia is planning to outlaw one hand openers as well. We are currently working on a design that would be acceptable for their new laws.

Hi Tsugigiri,

Germany has been changing laws often for the past 5 or 6 years. First butterfly's went, then autos, Now it's one hand open non locking or two hand open locking with, I believe, 3 inch blades and 12 CM blade for fixed blades.

sal

Thanks. That's a shame, it seems like a lot of countries seem to be moving in that direction.

[peacefuljeffrey]

As a student of history these types of laws are even worse then they appear. Government is just like fire. Something that is needed, but if you let it get out of your control it is destructive. I challenge anyone you show a historical example of an encroaching government not becoming oppressive.

Agreed; and more to the point, where have such laws ever succeeded at reducing crime?!

[Dagon]

Thanks all for the info, I think that safest may be to bring my old 2-hand opening Rücksack.
An anecdote: before 9/11 I accidentally had that one in my onboard luggage. They confiscated it. By then it was 10 years old and been with me on many backpacking trips, hence I was attached to it. Well, just before entering the plane a stewardess gave it back to me! Unthinkable now!

Germany has been changing laws often for the past 5 or 6 years. First butterfly's went, then autos, Now it's one hand open non locking or two hand open locking with, I believe, 3 inch blades and 12 CM blade for fixed blades.

Sal, you are correct about the one hand opening and fixed blades, however strangely there is no size limit on two hand opening knives in Germany. That's why a big Böker Turbine 42, or a monstrous Pohl Force Alpha Two Outdoor are edc-able (in theory at least, I wouldn't peel an apple with them in the middle of a city).

[peacefuljeffrey]

Thanks. That's a shame, it seems like a lot of countries seem to be moving in that direction.

And somehow, stupefyingly, none of them demonstrates any capacity to understand that they solve not a single problem with these inane laws. This is enough to seriously make one lose faith in humanity.

[Armalite Native]

I just heard two weeks ago that Austrlia is planning to outlaw one hand openers as well. We are currently working on a design that would be acceptable for their new laws.

Hi Tsugigiri,

Germany has been changing laws often for the past 5 or 6 years. First butterfly's went, then autos, Now it's one hand open non locking or two hand open locking with, I believe, 3 inch blades and 12 CM blade for fixed blades.

sal

Without going into too much detail - we are trying to fight this as hard as we can. Its political grand standing and thats it.

[dem0n1k]

i guess if australia is planning to ban one handed opening knives... i better stock up while it's still legal

[razorsharp]

man il be gutted if that law gets passed on to NZ

[razorsharp]

man I HATE those f###ing loosers who stab and mug people, hold up dairys, ruin it all for the rest of the good Samaritans. and such a drastic knife law change is unnecessary, they dont care about the law and theyre still gonna do it.

[Armalite Native]

Its a sad state of affairs but on the bright side - there is so much BS going on with the environment, wars, jobs ect that I think this will drag out just like everything else for some time to come.

[MCM]

Is knife related crime going up around the world.
Is there any real data out there?
Actual numbers? Yr. 2000 V. S. 2010 stabbing's etc.

I am just sitting back in total confusion why so many people are against pocket knifes?
Locks, no locks, one hand, auto, who cares a knife is a knife.
What are they really trying to accomplish with these laws?

[ChrisR]

What are they really trying to accomplish with these laws?

Political expediency ... politicians will do the easiest/cheapest thing they can to convince the majority of the electorate that they are in charge and the country is safe in their hands.

I am not really all that convinced that knife crime is any worse than it was 10 or 20 or even 50 years ago ... and banning stuff - especially something that is as ubiquitous in society as a knife (we all have kitchens) does nothing to address the root causes of violence in society.

Basically, politicians need to be called to prove that their actions are both effective and proportionate.

[sal]

We are working on a two hand opening Rescue for the Oz Rescue workers, firefighters EMT's paramedics, etc.

sal

[Ankerson]

The Government can pretty much do as they please down there as it's not really like the US, don't have the same freedoms etc.

Different Countries can be a lot different from one another, that's something I try and tell people a lot. They can't be looked at as the same as the US because they just aren't the same.