I shall re-iterate, as to not cause any confusion.
THERE IS NO SUCH BAN.
Please do not send e-mails to politicians or start any AusPost boycotting campaigns. Please inform your friends that they are wrong if they have been misinformed.
The statement from Australia Post is as follows:
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EXCLUSIONS FROM THE DEFINITION OF ITEMS OF WEAPONRY
Australia Post will continue to carry items such as knives, daggers, swords, and axes,
which have a valid import or export permit where required and are legally permissible
to carry into Australia (if inbound) or into the country of destination (if outbound).
PLEASE NOTE: Australian Customs regulations prohibit or restrict many of these
items. It is the responsibility of customers importing or exporting these items to make
their own enquiries to ensure the goods are acceptable, and to obtain any relevant
permits.
Information regarding Customs regulations on knives, firearms and warfare items can
be found at 1300 363 263,
information@customs.gov.au or
www.customs.gov.au.
OTHER CARRIERS
Private carriers may accept these items. Australia Post is unable to recommend which
carriers may/may not carry firearms/weaponry to international destinations.
ARTICLES CURRENTLY IN TRANSIT
Articles that may have already been sent from an international destination to Australia
will be assessed on a case-by-case basis until the end of January 2006. A longer
discretionary period will apply to articles sent by sea mail.
With regard to air-conveyed mail, from 1 February any firearms or items of weaponry
detected from an international destination will be returned to sender. With regard to
sea-conveyed mail, from 1 April any firearms or items of weaponry detected from an
international destination will be returned to sender.
DOMESTIC CARRIAGE
The domestic carriage of firearms and weaponry conditions remains unchanged.
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The knives ban only lasted a mere number of hours before it was revoked.