Victoria's machete amnesty cost half the projected budget
The Victoria government revealed its machete amnesty program cost $6.55 million, half the initially projected $13 million budget.
Victoria's machete surrender bins collected 12,357 machetes and other knives after the weapons were banned in September 2025. The amnesty program cost taxpayers $6.55 million.
The government had estimated it would cost $13 million. Seventy-five blue bins were installed at 45 police stations across the state.
Items surrendered included butter knives, kitchen scissors, guns and axes. Contractor G4S received $925,000 to make the bins, install them, and collect and destroy the weapons.
Creative services and market research for the campaign cost another $1 million combined.
- $6.55 million
- Actual cost
- 12,357 machetes and other knives
- Weapons surrendered
- September 2025
- Ban date
- 75 bins at 45 police stations
- Bins and locations
Why it mattersThe revelation shows how much the government spent on a major anti-knife crime program and answers questions about where the money went.
AustraliaVictorians funded a $6.55 million knife amnesty; the transparency comes months after the government faced criticism for withholding cost details during election pressure on knife crime.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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