Changes to knife Laws

On 1 July 2025 changes to the Summary Offences (Dangerous Articles and Prohibited Weapons) Regulations 2000 were made to include machetes and swords making ownership of such weapons illegal, except for where specific exemptions are in place.

Within contemporary witchcraft a double blade knife (athame) is part of the required tools for an initiate, and for covens, a sword is often used to cast circles. Swords and knives are also used within various other magical traditions, many of which are not religious. The question then arises: How does these recent changes affect practicing contemporary witches, magicians and other such people in South Australia.

Clause 7 of the exemptions to this Act (under which the regulations fall) provides for “religious purposes”, and states that:

“A person may possess a prohibited weapon that is a knife or dagger (excluding a butterfly knife, flick knife, push knife or trench knife) if

– the person is a member of a religious group AND

the person possesses, wears or carries the knife or dagger for the purpose of complying with the requirements of that religion.”

There appears to be a degree of uncertainty as to what or how a person can “prove” their possession of a knife or sword is for religious purposes, if indeed they need to. It also raises potential issues about the misuse of this exemption, not to mention magical people who do not consider themselves to be “religious”.

The exemption clause can be found here.

Further information about knife laws in general can be found here.