New laws with up to $80,000 fine that many don't know is illegal: 'Happening weekly'
A leading Aussie lawyer is urging the public to take note of a fast-growing trend he now sees on a "weekly" basis — warning it could cost you thousands in fines or even land you behind bars, with penalties climbing as high as $80,000 in some regions.
Avinash Singh has seen firsthand how the growing trend is taking hold, particularly among young people and those involved in the drug trade.
"Most of those carrying knives either wrongly believe they are allowed to for self-defence. Or, they know they cannot carry knives for self-defence but do so anyway, because the consequences of not carrying a knife are more severe than being caught with one," Singh told Yahoo News Australia.
He said that while some young people claim they carry knives to feel safe, especially in certain areas, self-defence is not considered a reasonable excuse under the law.
"People who carry knives should be aware that the new laws are intended to significantly increase the penalties for these offences, including jail time," Singh, Principal Lawyer at Astor Legal, warned.
The warning comes after police arrested a 15-year-old boy in NSW this week, after an alleged knife incident at Macquarie Park on June 9. He stands accused of chasing three people with a machete near a shopping centre bus stop.
On Wednesday, police shot a teen girl after she allegedly wielded a knife and made threats outside a Townsville pub in Queensland.
Every Australian jurisdiction has laws prohibiting the carrying of knives without a lawful reason, and penalties have become significantly tougher in 2025.
In New South Wales, carrying a knife without a lawful excuse carries a maximum penalty of four years' imprisonment and a fine of $4,400. From September, the penalties in Victoria will increase, with offenders facing up to two years behind bars and fines of $30,700.
In Queensland, knife possession can land you a year in prison and a fine of up to $6,452. The state has also made it illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18, with the change coming into effect on September 1, 2024. Western Australia has some of the most severe monetary penalties, with individuals facing up to three years' imprisonment and fines reaching $36,000.
In South Australia, knife carrying can lead to six months' imprisonment and a $2,500 fine, while Tasmania is moving to increase penalties to three years' imprisonment and fines of up to $20,100, up from the current $10,050.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Territory, the maximum penalty is one year in prison or a $37,000 fine. But the Australian Capital Territory imposes the toughest sanctions of all. Those caught with a knife can be sentenced to five years' imprisonment and slapped with a fine of up to $80,000.
Singh said the laws have tightened considerably in 2025, with most states now empowering police to conduct warrantless searches and use metal detectors "wanting" where they reasonably suspect someone may be carrying a knife.
"Enhanced education, particularly for young people, would be a positive step. Schools should consider adding a course so that young people are aware of the consequences of carrying knives and that self-defence is not a legal defence," he said.
Singh explained that under the law, the only reasonable excuses for carrying a knife include things like: needing it for work or training; using it for food preparation (such as camping or hunting); for religious purposes; for a lawful sport or recreational activity; for lawful exhibitions or collections; or as part of wearing an official uniform.
"We have represented a number of minors accused of carrying knives — generally from lower socio-economic areas — carrying knives for self-defence. Unfortunately, a lot of these young people have been assaulted and/or threatened themselves," Singh said.
"They feel that reporting the matter to police after the fact will do them little good, particularly if they are seriously injured or even killed. As such, they often feel that they have to carry a knife to protect themselves." But Singh says the legal system doesn't allow for this kind of reasoning. In the eyes of the law, a fear of harm — even if justified — is not a defence for possession.
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