Crooks will find it harder to refuse a gun ban and traders will be required to ask for identification when selling machetes, under a weapons crackdown in Victoria.
The Victorian government has introduced the Firearms and Control of Weapons (machetes) Amendment Bill to parliament, in what it has dubbed a "crime crackdown".
A firearms prohibition order allows police to stop and search those subject to the order at any time to check if they are carrying a gun.
Breaching the order carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
While more than 2000 orders have been issued, police have often run into difficulty as they can only be served in person.
Under the legislation introduced to parliament on Wednesday, officers will be able stop a person of interest in the street and direct them to remain there or come with them to a police station or another place for up to two hours to serve an order.
Police will also be able to apply to a magistrate for a warrant to enter a premises to search for and serve a person the order, and be able to serve the order on detainees via the post.
"If police believe you're in a home or you’re in a vehicle and stopped, you can be served and you can’t avoid that service," Police Minister Anthony Carbines told reporters.
"We've had people in immigration detention, we've had people in custody, who have refused the service of firearm prohibition."
Only those of "ill repute" are the target of police for such orders, Mr Carbines insisted.
The bill also clarifies machetes are classified as a controlled weapon, meaning they cannot be possessed, carried, or used without a lawful excuse or sold to anyone under 18.
Carrying a controlled weapon without a lawful excuse can lead to a fine of more than $23,000 or a jail term of one year.
Mr Carbines said police requested the change due to ambiguity when enforcing the law.
"Market and stall holder operators, they need to be very clear, you cannot sell machetes to those under 18 years of age," he said.
"You need to seek ID and you need to clear up who you’re selling to."
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said the proposed machete changes did not go far enough, calling for the government to make them a prohibited weapon.
"There is no reason any person should be walking along the Yarra River in Melbourne with a machete," he said.
