Machete ban promised safety…yet two children just died within metres of each other
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Content warning: This story contains details of a violent attack involving children.
Two boys lost their lives on a suburban street, just metres from one another.
Their deaths have fuelled anger across Victoria as residents questioned the effectiveness of the state’s new machete ban.
Families now mourn while critics argue that metal bins outside police stations were never going to stop the violence.
Dau Akueng, 15, and his 12-year-old friend were attacked on Saturday night while walking home from the local basketball stadium in Cobblebank, 33km west of Melbourne’s CBD.
A trio armed with machetes and long-bladed knives hunted them down, leaving both boys with critical injuries.
They died only metres apart.
Initial speculation linked the killings to gang violence, but Dau’s father, Elbino Akueng, dismissed the claims.
‘He is a basketball player, not a criminal,’ he shared.
‘I’m talking right now in behalf of my community... In this month, four kids in similar incidents and there is no answer from police. There is no answer for justice.’
He added: ‘I told the police last night that I need an answer for my son. My son is just gone...like this.’
Mr Akueng described his son as someone who loved basketball, making friends, and joking around.
‘I’ll miss you my son, I will miss you forever. God bless. God bless.’
Police later said the killings were likely a case of mistaken identity.
The backlash over Victoria’s new knife laws intensified after the tragedy, with many venting frustration on social media.
‘I saw this coming miles away. The only ones to benefit the machete ban is (Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan) and her mates who got $13million to build 40 metal bins. Imagine how many Aussie families it could have housed,’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘To the Premier of Victoria, the machete and knife ban continues to work well. Two more kids dead and all you do is place boxes outside police stations.’
‘Boy, that machete ban and the new bail laws are working really well. Another two children hacked to death overnight,’ another added
One person remarked: ‘I’m just shocked these kids didn’t put their machetes in the bins provided and abide by the machete ban announced by the Vic Premier! Shocked! I mean she asked politely.’
The laws, introduced last week, made it illegal to own, use, carry, transport, or sell knives without approval.
Convictions could lead to penalties of up to two years in jail or fines exceeding $47,000.
Over 40 amnesty boxes were placed outside police stations for a three-month period, allowing people to surrender machetes without penalty.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the community must help ‘dry up the supply of machetes’ by handing them in.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged parents to act, stressing that children made up 25 per cent of knife-crime offenders in the state.
Exemptions remain for agricultural workers and for machetes with cultural or historical significance.
In 2024, 14,805 edged weapons were seized in Victoria, with another 8,900 confiscated between January and July this year.
Since May, authorities had carried out more than 3,000 inspections across shops, online platforms, and market stalls, finding high levels of compliance.
South Australia enacted a similar ban on machetes and swords in July, placing the two states among the strictest in the country.
The recent machete attack highlights how sudden changes in weapon laws can have unintended consequences.
Similar confusion and frustration have arisen when everyday tools were unexpectedly restricted, affecting people who rely on them daily.
Exploring these situations can provide insight into the challenges of implementing bans effectively.
Read more: Sudden ban hits everyday tools sparks confusion among hobbyists
Two young lives were cut short on a walk home, leaving behind grief, questions, and a community demanding justice.
Two boys lost their lives on a suburban street, just metres from one another.
Their deaths have fuelled anger across Victoria as residents questioned the effectiveness of the state’s new machete ban.
Families now mourn while critics argue that metal bins outside police stations were never going to stop the violence.
Dau Akueng, 15, and his 12-year-old friend were attacked on Saturday night while walking home from the local basketball stadium in Cobblebank, 33km west of Melbourne’s CBD.
A trio armed with machetes and long-bladed knives hunted them down, leaving both boys with critical injuries.
They died only metres apart.
Two boys killed in Cobblebank machete attack. Image source: Pexels/kat wilcox | Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Initial speculation linked the killings to gang violence, but Dau’s father, Elbino Akueng, dismissed the claims.
‘He is a basketball player, not a criminal,’ he shared.
‘I’m talking right now in behalf of my community... In this month, four kids in similar incidents and there is no answer from police. There is no answer for justice.’
He added: ‘I told the police last night that I need an answer for my son. My son is just gone...like this.’
Mr Akueng described his son as someone who loved basketball, making friends, and joking around.
‘I’ll miss you my son, I will miss you forever. God bless. God bless.’
Police later said the killings were likely a case of mistaken identity.
The backlash over Victoria’s new knife laws intensified after the tragedy, with many venting frustration on social media.
‘I saw this coming miles away. The only ones to benefit the machete ban is (Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan) and her mates who got $13million to build 40 metal bins. Imagine how many Aussie families it could have housed,’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘To the Premier of Victoria, the machete and knife ban continues to work well. Two more kids dead and all you do is place boxes outside police stations.’
‘Boy, that machete ban and the new bail laws are working really well. Another two children hacked to death overnight,’ another added
One person remarked: ‘I’m just shocked these kids didn’t put their machetes in the bins provided and abide by the machete ban announced by the Vic Premier! Shocked! I mean she asked politely.’
The laws, introduced last week, made it illegal to own, use, carry, transport, or sell knives without approval.
Convictions could lead to penalties of up to two years in jail or fines exceeding $47,000.
Over 40 amnesty boxes were placed outside police stations for a three-month period, allowing people to surrender machetes without penalty.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the community must help ‘dry up the supply of machetes’ by handing them in.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged parents to act, stressing that children made up 25 per cent of knife-crime offenders in the state.
Exemptions remain for agricultural workers and for machetes with cultural or historical significance.
In 2024, 14,805 edged weapons were seized in Victoria, with another 8,900 confiscated between January and July this year.
Since May, authorities had carried out more than 3,000 inspections across shops, online platforms, and market stalls, finding high levels of compliance.
South Australia enacted a similar ban on machetes and swords in July, placing the two states among the strictest in the country.
The recent machete attack highlights how sudden changes in weapon laws can have unintended consequences.
Similar confusion and frustration have arisen when everyday tools were unexpectedly restricted, affecting people who rely on them daily.
Exploring these situations can provide insight into the challenges of implementing bans effectively.
Read more: Sudden ban hits everyday tools sparks confusion among hobbyists
Two young lives were cut short on a walk home, leaving behind grief, questions, and a community demanding justice.
