Recently, our CEO Paul Burke joined Raf Epstein on ABC Radio to speak about the Victorian Government’s upcoming machete ban — a move long advocated for by our late founder, Les Twentyman OAM.
“For more than 30 years, Les fought to have these weapons banned,” Paul said. “He’d be looking down with a bit of a smile on his face. It’s just a shame he’s not here to see it — but we’re not there yet, Raf. We need to keep the pressure up.”
In the interview, Paul highlighted the complex mindset behind young people carrying machetes:
“In our experience, they don’t see it as a sword — they see it as a shield. In their minds, everybody else is carrying. They’re not going out to kill or hurt — they’re protecting themselves. It’s that mindset we need to break.”
While welcoming the ban, Paul warned that enforcement and prevention must go hand in hand:
“There are so many ways to buy these weapons these days. You need to have systems in place to stop that. I’d hate to think it’s impossible — difficult, yes — but the federal government controls our borders.”
Paul also reflected on the broader causes of youth violence, pointing to a lack of facilities and support in growing suburbs:
“No youth centres, no sports clubs — so young people go looking for something to do. And that will likely involve trouble.”
He shared the powerful story of a young man once on the wrong path who came into contact with the Foundation years ago. Recently, that same young man — now a newly elected councillor in the City of Maribyrnong — attended our annual gala.“We played a video of Les, and he turned to us and said, ‘Oh my God, that’s me.’ He spoke about his mates, many of whom didn’t make it. He’s not only a representative of his community now — he’s a representative of local government.”
Paul closed the interview with cautious optimism, calling for more community incentives and youth engagement:
“Are the government thinking about vouchers? Cinema tickets? Anything to encourage young people to hand in these weapons. I’m a bit more optimistic now. It’s progress — and that’s got to be a good thing.”
The Victorian Government has enacted a historic ban on machetes, marking the first of its kind in Australia. Effective from 1 September 2025.
At the Les Twentyman Foundation, we believe change starts not just with bans — but with early intervention, belonging, purpose, and opportunity.
We’ll keep doing the work. But we need policy, prevention, and community action to walk alongside us.
Listen to full interview below