Shoppers were left terrified on Sunday when a violent brawl erupted between rival gangs armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north.
Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged while another man, 20, was rushed to hospital following clashes.
In response, the Victorian government has stopped short of bringing forward a ban on the long, dangerous blades from September 1 and a subsequent three-month amnesty period.
Premier Jacinta Allan has instead opted for an interim ban on the sale of machetes from noon on Wednesday, under extraordinary commonwealth powers.
"The community shouldn't have to deal with these weapons in their shopping centres," Ms Allan told reporters on Monday.
"Neither should our police."
The interim sale ban will cover machetes, which are broadly described as a cutting-edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres.
There will be no exemptions for certain customers to buy the items during the interim ban.
"This is the tool that we are using to choke the supply of these dangerous weapons immediately," the premier said.
Retailers have been advised to store excess stock in a safe location until the amnesty and exemption schemes begin.
A task force will be established to enforce the interim ban.
Business owners caught flouting it could face fines of up to $200,000 or prison time, Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos said.
Ms Allan defended her government's decision not to bring forward the possession ban and amnesty period.
She said it was based on advice from Victoria Police and agencies in March over safety concerns, and pointed out it took 18 months for the UK to implement its machete ban.
The state budget earmarked $13 million to roll out the Victorian ban, including for locked disposal boxes at 40 24-hour police stations.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association welcomed the interim sales ban but reiterated its request for outlets to lock up all bladed items, including kitchen knives.
"The Northland affray highlights the urgent need for these measures," the union's Victorian secretary Michael Donovan said.
Police should also immediately consider stepping up security and increasing their visibility to improve safety for staff and shoppers, Mr Donovan said.
Liberal frontbencher Evan Mulholland said the government had to be dragged "kicking and screaming" to the machete ban and lamented the delay.
"Always a dollar short and a day late with this lot," the Northern Metropolitan Region MP wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The machete laws and expanded police search powers for weapons passed parliament in March after more than 15,000 edged weapons were confiscated in 2024 - a 10-year high.
Harsher bail laws to respond to surging youth crime, aggravated burglaries and car thefts came into effect in April after also being rushed through Victorian parliament by the Allan Labor government.
The teenagers involved in Sunday's brawl have been charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, possess controlled weapon and use controlled weapon.
Superintendent Kelly Lawson said rival gangs arranged a meeting at the centre's food court before the fight erupted.
"It is said to have been an act of retaliation," she said.
Police believe about 10 people were involved.
Some were armed with knives but none had firearms.
The fight locked down the complex and conjured memories of the 2024 Bondi Junction shopping centre stabbing attack that killed six innocent people.
Supt Lawson said it would not take long to identify all the gang members involved and it was "no secret" Victoria Police would like the machete ban in place as soon as possible.
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