In her interview on Wake Up Australia, operational security expert and Nepean Regional Security founder Gina Field highlighted the alarming rise in machete-related violence across Australia, especially in public places like shopping centres. She described a recent Melbourne incident where an attacker wielded a machete and shouted “Allahu Akbar,” drawing attention to the growing threat to public safety.
Gina praised Victoria for responding swiftly by introducing a statewide ban on machete possession and imposing fines of up to $50,000. She pointed out that South Australia has also taken steps to implement a similar ban, giving residents a few months to surrender their machetes. However, she noted that states such as New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia have failed to adopt comparable laws, which creates inconsistency across the country.
To show the urgency, Gina revealed that she successfully purchased a machete online just an hour before the interview without needing to provide an exemption or valid reason—something she found deeply troubling. She urged lawmakers to implement uniform national legislation to eliminate legal loopholes and strengthen public safety.
Although she acknowledged that machetes can serve legitimate purposes—such as in agriculture or certain occupations—Gina emphasised the need to regulate and monitor any exemptions strictly. She expressed doubt about cultural or display-related exemptions, warning that people could misuse them to bypass the law.
Gina also criticised the media for creating confusion in its coverage of recent police-involved shootings of machete-wielding attackers. She voiced strong support for police officers, who must make split-second decisions to protect the public and themselves, particularly in crowded environments where danger escalates quickly.
She raised broader concerns, warning that Australia could mirror Johannesburg, where shopping centres now resemble gated, high-security zones due to similar threats. Gina stressed the need to act swiftly to prevent that future.
She also proposed a firearms-style amnesty, encouraging people to hand in machetes without penalty instead of letting retailers continue selling their stock. Gina highlighted a dangerous mix of rising youth crime, overstretched police resources, and inadequate court responses, arguing that Australia must take immediate action to remove dangerous weapons from the streets.
In closing, Gina called on the government to act decisively and protect Australian communities. Without bold action, she warned, public spaces will become more dangerous and filled with fear.
