Two boys were fatally stabbed in Melbourne’s western suburb of Cobblebank on Saturday night, a week after Victoria introduced a tightened ban on machetes and launched a three-month amnesty for long-bladed weapons.
Dau Akueng, 15, and a 12-year-old friend were attacked while walking home from a local basketball stadium in Cobblebank, about 33 kilometres west of the central business district. Both suffered critical injuries and died a short distance apart after being set upon by a trio armed with machetes and long-bladed knives.
The killings prompted immediate public anger and criticism of the state government’s recent measures to curb machete availability, which included more than 40 safe-disposal amnesty boxes placed outside police stations. Social media users and community members questioned the effectiveness of the disposal bins and the ban, while officials defended the policy as one tool among others to reduce weapon-related harm.
Police said the attack appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. Initial media reports speculated about possible gang connections, but Dau Akueng’s father, Elbino Akueng, rejected those suggestions, describing his son as ‘‘a basketball player, not a criminal.’’ He told the Herald Sun he wanted answers from police and lamented the loss of his son, saying, ‘‘I’ll miss you my son, I will miss you forever. God bless. God bless.’’
Victoria’s law change, fast-tracked by the state government after a high-profile fight at Northland Shopping Centre, makes it illegal to own, use, carry, transport or sell machetes without an exemption or valid approval. Convictions can carry penalties of up to two years in jail or fines exceeding A$47,000. The temporary sales ban and amnesty were announced amid concerns about the number of long-bladed weapons entering street markets and online sales channels.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines urged Victorians to hand in machetes during the three-month amnesty, which runs until Nov. 30. ‘‘We encourage all Victorians to play their part to dry up the supply of machetes in our community,’’ he said when the program was launched. Premier Jacinta Allan has also urged parents to surrender knives and machetes belonging to children, noting that juveniles make up roughly a quarter of knife-crime offenders in the state.
Authorities reported stepped-up enforcement since May. A task force has carried out 573 in-store and online inspections and about 2,400 market-stall checks, finding a high level of compliance with the sales ban. Victoria Police said 14,805 edged weapons were seized in 2024 and another 8,900 were confiscated between January and July of this year.
The legislation includes exemptions for agricultural workers who use machetes as part of their job and for blades with genuine traditional, historical or cultural significance. More than 40 secure disposal bins have been installed at police stations statewide to allow people to hand in machetes without penalty.
Public reaction to the Cobblebank killings included sharp criticism that the amnesty boxes and new laws alone were insufficient to prevent violent attacks. Commenters on social media questioned whether the measures addressed the supply routes and social drivers of youth violence, while some urged greater focus on enforcement and community interventions.
Victoria Police have not publicly disclosed whether any arrests have been made in the Cobblebank attack. The police assessment that the incident was likely mistaken identity has not been elaborated, and investigators continue to examine the circumstances. The state government said it would continue to pursue measures aimed at reducing weapon availability and preventing similar tragedies.
The Premier’s office was contacted for comment.