There are a few bronze statues dotted about the Aussie outback which may need modification if we were to start banning the wearing of pocket knives in the bush.
If we really needed more proof about the ridiculousness of the $100 fine handed out to a Chinchilla man for wearing his pocket knife, then look no further.
Look at the statue of the Ringer out the front of the Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach in Queensland.
Or the tribute to the stockmen at Katherine in the Northern Territory, modelled on Sabu Peter Sing.
Yep, they were carrying an Aussie Knife!
Imagine locking up the legendary R.M. Williams for breaking the law, the company which bears his name still sells the leather pouches to fix them to your belt.
Who’s R. M. Williams? Carrying on Aussie leather heritage since 1932. The R.M.Williams journey began with handcrafted leather goods by founder Reginald Murray Williams. Carrying on this legacy, we’ve brought to life a range of small leather goods, taking inspiration from our well-leathered heritage. Handcrafted by our talented craftspeople whose skills have been passed from generation to generation keeping alive RM’s original leather craft.
Of course the sculptors captured these outback champions at work, the law allows the carrying of knives or multi-tools for that.
For many they are an essential part of getting dressed in the morning, like pulling on your boots.
A little knife, or even a Swiss Army multi-tool, a Leatherman is most popular – can save a trip back to the ute, or the shed.
There’s a 1001 jobs they can do, in short they are incredibly useful and time-savers.
As these statues prove, it has been this way for generations, and remain no less vital a farm tool today.
That’s at work.
But at play, well that’s where the problems begin.
The law says the Aussie Knives are not be worn in public – at pubs, shopping centres, schools or the like. The law-makers feared they might be used not as a tool but as a weapon.
Others could grab them off another’s belt, or in a fracas, a desperate person could pull it out in self defence perhaps.
Makes perfect sense for the most part. But every rule has an exception. Maybe an example >
Queensland Weapons Act 1990 | Part 4 > Division 1 > Section 51
Possession of a knife in a public place or a school
(1)A person must not physically possess a knife in a public place or a school, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—40 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment.
(2)It is a reasonable excuse for subsection (1) to physically possess a knife—
(a)to perform a lawful activity, duty or employment; or
(b)to participate in a lawful entertainment, recreation or sport; or
(c)for lawfully exhibiting the knife; or
(d)for use for a lawful purpose.
Example for subsection (2)(a)—
1A person may carry a knife on his or her belt for performing work in primary production.
Examples for subsection (2)(b)—
1A scout may carry a knife on his or her belt as part of the scout uniform.
2A person may carry a knife as an accessory while playing in a pipe band.
3A fisher may carry a knife for use while fishing.
Example for subsection (2)(c)—
1A person who collects knives may exhibit them at a fete or another public gathering.
Examples for subsection (2)(d)—
1A person may use a knife to prepare or cut food at a restaurant in a public place or when having a picnic in a park.
2A person may carry a pen knife or swiss army knife for use for its normal utility purposes.
(3)However, it is not a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife in a public place or a school for self-defence purposes.
(4)Also, it is a reasonable excuse for subsection (1), to the extent the subsection relates to a public place, to physically possess a knife for genuine religious purposes.
A Sikh may possess, in a public place, a knife known as a kirpan to comply with the person’s religious faith.
(5)However, it is not a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife in a school for genuine religious purposes.
(6)In deciding what is a reasonable excuse for subsection (1), regard may be had, among other things, to whether the way the knife is held in possession, or when and where it is held in possession, would cause a reasonable person concern that he or she, or someone else in the vicinity, may be threatened or harmed.
(7)In this section—
knife includes a thing with a sharpened point or blade that is reasonably capable of—
(a)being held in 1 or both hands; and
(b)being used to wound or threaten to wound anyone when held in 1 or both hands.
public place includes a vehicle that is in or on a public place.
(a)a State educational institution under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006; or
(b)a non-State school under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017.
