From 1 July 2026, a person selling knives from retail premises must ensure that prescribed knives stored in a part of the retail premises to which members of the public are permitted access are kept in a securely locked cabinet or container or securely tethered, such that members of the public are not able to gain access to the knives without employee assistance.

The maximum penalty for failing to keep prescribed knives secured is a $10,000 fine or a $1,000 expiation fee.

From 1 July 2026, a person selling knives from retail premises must display a prohibition notice containing the information prescribed by the Regulations.

A person selling knives by direct sales transaction (in which the knife is to be delivered to or picked up from an address in South Australia) must publish the information prescribed by the Regulations on the website through which the transaction occurred or must provide the information to a customer who otherwise purchases knives by direct sales transaction.

The maximum penalty for both offences is a $10,000 fine or a $1,000 expiation fee.

From July 1 2025, if you supply a knife to a minor, and you knew (or should have known) that the minor intended or was likely to use it to commit an offence, you will face penalties under the new criminal offence.

The person who supplied the knife will face penalties:

• For a serious offence of violence - $35,000 fine or 4 years in prison.
• For an offence of possessing a knife in an education facility, public place or place of worship - $10,000 fine or 6 months in prison.

From July 1 2025, machetes and swords will be classified as prohibited weapons.

The penalty for manufacturing, selling, distributing, supplying, or otherwise dealing in, or using or possessing a prohibited weapon is - $20,000 fine or 2 years in prison.

Existing Knife Crime penalties include:

• Carrying an offensive weapon without lawful excuse - $2,500 fine or 6 months prison
• Manufacturing, selling, distributing, supplying or dealing in dangerous articles - $7,500 fine or 18 months in prison
• Carrying an offensive weapon while in – or trying to leave or enter – a licensed premises or the carpark of a licensed premises at night - $7,500 or 2 years in prison
• Using an offensive weapon or carrying an offensive weapon that is visible, in the presence of any person in an education facility, place of worship, or public place in a manner that would be likely to cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety - $10,000 or 2 years in prison
• Possessing a knife in an education facility, place of worship or public place without lawful excuse - $2,500 or 6 months in prison for a first offence or $5,000 or 12 months imprisonment for a subsequent offence
• Selling a knife to a minor - $20,000 or 2 years in prison
• Marketing a knife in a way that suggests the knife is suitable for combat or is otherwise likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon - $20,000 or 2 years in prison.

As long as the notice is in accordance with the regulations, retailers can prepare the notice themselves.

The requirements are that the following words be displayed in legible letters or numerals 15 millimetres in height or larger and in a colour that contrasts with the background colour of the notice:

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL KNIVES TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. PERSONS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF AGE WHEN MAKING A PURCHASE

An exemption for the secure storage of dangerous knives will apply only for fishing and tackle stores in recognition of the impact of the algal bloom on this sector.

For sellers of knives through a direct transaction (via the internet, etc. in which the knife is shipped to, or picked up by, a purchaser in South Australia), the seller is required to publish the following words on any website through which knives are sold, or provide them to a customer:

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO SELL KNIVES TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. PERSONS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF AGE WHEN MAKING A PURCHASE

Retailers who continue to sell knives as part of their business following the changes taking effect will be required to pay the cost of installing cabinets/tethers to secure those knives that are kept in areas of the retail premises to which members of the public have access. There is no requirement for knife sellers to secure knives that are kept in areas of retail premises that are not accessible to members of the public.

There is no number of notices that must be displayed, but the notice must be displayed in a manner likely to be seen by customers in retail premises. Either at each point of sale or at each area in the retail premises where knives are displayed for sale.

You will need to display signage from July 1, 2026. More information can be found in the FAQ, “Where can I get the posters I’m required to display?”

Yes, you can.

If selling food, you can provide wooden or plastic cutlery for all ages.

If selling knives, the changes exclude butter knives, table knives, or other knives typically sold in a cutlery set (regardless of if it’s sold in a set), as long as the knives do not have a sharp point.

Yes, razor blades permanently enclosed in a cartridge can be sold.

Machetes and swords are now prohibited weapons.

If you wish to continue selling, manufacturing or otherwise dealing in prohibited weapons you will need to follow strict conditions associated with the applicable exemption, which includes notifying the Police Commissioner of your intention to sell these items, keeping records and other conditions.

While people under 18 cannot purchase sharp knives, they can sell them.

If you see retail stores or online sellers

• selling or supplying knives to minors or marketing knives in a way that suggests that they are suitable for combat or likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon
• selling machetes or swords without an exemption

you can report what you’ve seen by calling South Australia Police on 131 444.

Yes. The consultation period ended in March, 2025. The changes have been made following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The third phase will begin July 1, 2026.

You will still be able to purchase items which are not classed as prohibited weapons if you’re above 18 years old.

However, all knives with a sharp cutting edge or a sharp point (other than razor blades permanently enclosed in a cartridge, plastic or wooden knives used for, and intended to be disposed of after, eating, butter knives, table knives, and knives of a kind typically sold in a cutlery set that do not have a sharp point) will now be tethered or kept in cabinets.

You will need to ask an employee for assistance if you wish to purchase such a knife. You can still inspect a knife for sale with the assistance of an employee.

Machetes and swords are classed as prohibited weapons and associated offences can be charged. They have been part of this classification since July 1, 2025.

If you wish to possess a sword or a machete, you may fall within an existing exemption category. To find out whether you fall within an existing exemption, check the Summary Offences Act 1953, SAPOL website or seek legal advice.

Yes. You can buy butter knives, table knives or other knives of a kind typically sold in a cutlery set that do not have a sharp point. You can also buy plastic or wooden knives used for, and intended to be disposed of, after eating, and razor blades permanently enclosed in a cartridge.

In South Australia, there are 3 categories for weapons offences:

1. offensive weapons: knives, rifles, guns, pistols, clubs, bludgeons, truncheons and other offensive or lethal weapons or instruments (other than prohibited weapons)
2. dangerous articles: things that have been prescribed to be dangerous articles include a gas injector device (including a WASP injector knife) and other non-bladed weapons such as plain catapults and self-protection spray.
3. prohibited weapons: things that have been prescribed to be prohibited weapons now include machetes and swords, as well as, ballistic knives, butterfly knives, daggers, dirk or sgian dhu, fighting knives, flick knives, knife belts, push knives, star knives, throwing knives, trench knives, undetectable knives, and bayonets. Non-bladed things that have been prescribed to be prohibited weapons include brace catapults, cross-bows and extendable batons.

There are different requirements and offences relating to each weapons category. Check the legislation for more details.

Machetes and swords are now classed as prohibited weapons.

While the law has not changed regarding the purchase of prohibited weapons, possession and use of these items without an exemption is a criminal offence. Before purchasing a machete or sword, check whether you fall within an existing exemption category or apply for an exemption.

You can review the list of exemptions in Schedule 2 of the Summary Offences Act and consider whether you qualify for an exemption.

If you have reviewed the list of exemptions and are unsure about whether you qualify for an exemption under Schedule 2, you may wish to enquire with South Australia Police about your specific circumstances by contacting the Firearms Branch via email at sapol.firearmsbranch@police.sa.gov.au or by phone on 7322 3407. If you are still unsure, you may wish to obtain legal advice.

See SAPOL - Prohibited weapons, items and explosives and SAPOL - Changes to knife laws for more information.

Consumers who see retail stores or online sellers doing the following can report what they have seen by calling South Australia Police on 131 444:

• selling knives to minors or marketing knives in a way that suggests that they are suitable for combat or is otherwise likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon
• Selling machetes or swords or other prohibited weapons without an exemption.

In late 2024, the Attorney-General’s Department consulted with the public on proposed reforms to knife laws. Members of the public, organisations and stakeholders were invited to give feedback.

The second phase of knife crime reforms began July 1, 2025.

• We’ve banned the sale of knives to all minors (under 18)
• Police can now prosecute those who supply knives to minors, where the supplier either knew or should have known the knife would be used in an offence.
• Offences involving carrying and use of an offensive weapon and the possession of knives have been expanded to include more places, including education facilities, public places and places of worship.
• Machetes and swords are now classified as prohibited weapons.

First phase of reforms begin - they include powers for:

• Police to carry out metal detector searches at declared shopping precincts, declared public transport hubs, on public transport vehicles providing a declared public transport service, and at declared places of worship.
• Police to have the power to conduct metal detector searches at any time at all licenced premises.
• Police to carry out metal detector searches for up to 6 hours at any public place where there are reasonable grounds to believe an incident of violence or disorder may take place in the area and that the exercise of powers is reasonably necessary to prevent the incident.
• Police to carry out metal detector searches in public places of any person who was a member of a criminal organisation within the previous 5 years or who has been found guilty of certain offences in the previous 5 years.

Reforms are introduced to Parliament by the State Government.

In response to the comprehensive review of South Australia’s current knife law’s, the State Government announce that a suite of reforms to crack down on knife crime will be introduced in early 2025.

South Australian Government consult with the public, SAPOL and stakeholders on changes to knife crime laws.

Visit the YourSAy consultation.