Australia’s latest move to ban machetes and knives is a valuable reminder of what happens when governments take an inch; they don’t stop until they’ve taken a mile.

The Arms Act rewrite is New Zealand's chance to stop the madness before it is imported from Australia, and ensure licensed firearm owners retain fair and effective firearm laws. This is why COLFO needs your support to defend the rights of responsible, licensed firearm owners in New Zealand before we slide down the same slippery slope.

Australia’s Bans: A Warning for New Zealand

Following a machete attack in a Melbourne shopping center, Victoria fast-tracked a machete ban, effective immediately, with disposal bins set up and penalties of up to two years in prison or $47,000 fines for non-compliance after a brief amnesty. Western Australia’s new knife laws, starting this Friday, allow police to scan anyone, anywhere, anytime for “edged weapons” without suspicion, carrying penalties of up to three years’ jail or $36,000 fines. This is what compromise looks like over time. Guns today, machetes tomorrow, kitchen knives next Thursday.

But the overreach doesn't stop at knives. In Western Australia, recreational hunters are limited to just five firearms, a cap that has no basis in improving public safety. For any hunter who can't pick a favorite, whether it's for different game, terrains, or simply building a collection, 5 simply isn't enough. It burdens responsible owners without deterring criminals. Adding insult to injury, WA also restricts large calibers by banning high-powered firearms and certain ammunition like .340 Weatherby Magnum and .28 Nosler. These measures do nothing to make anyone safer. Criminals don't follow caliber limits, and these restrictions only hinder law-abiding hunters and shooters.

These measures echo Australia’s 1996 gun ban, which disarmed law-abiding citizens while criminals adapted. Banning the tool doesn’t delete evil, it’s not about logic. It’s about control. Queensland’s knife-scanning laws, for example, found weapons in just 1% of 66,000 scans, yet eroded civil liberties through random searches and “net widening, where minor infractions are uncovered without proper grounds. The bans burden farmers, hunters, and collectors with pointless restrictions.

Why This Matters to You

New Zealand’s post-Christchurch reforms have already tightened regulations on licensed firearm owners, often under the guise of common sense. But this is not enough for the anti-gun crowd. The moment we let our guard down, we'll see the same senseless laws Australia imported here, trying to figure out whether your kitchen knife is now a criminal offense. Criminals don’t follow laws; they exploit them. True public safety comes from targeting criminal behavior, not over-regulating responsible citizens or banning tools used lawfully.

About COLFO:

The Council of Licensed Firearm Owners (COLFO), established in 1996, is New Zealand’s largest voluntary shooting-related organisation, representing thousands of responsible firearm owners. COLFO champions sensible firearms policies and the rights of its members to use firearms legally, safely, and responsibly.

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