A shopkeeper was left stunned after discovering a commonly used gardening tool locked behind glass doors at his local Bunnings.
Business owner Shane visited a hardware store in Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast at the weekend to buy a garden hoe.
The mechanic, who runs Procheck Automotive, later posted a TikTok video from inside showing dozens of tools stacked behind a Perspex screen.
“They’re all locked in and we have to talk to the customer service team to get one,” Shane explained in the video.
“So I went to customer service and he comes and tells us he can’t give us one of those (garden hoes) without bringing what we want to the counter when we go there.”
After receiving help from staff, the employee told Shane that they had to take the gardening tool to the checkout and that he couldn’t hold it until after making the purchase.
‘I thought it was a bit strange. I’ve never seen that before,’ he said.
Shane was confused by the new safety measures when more dangerous products like scissors and saws are more easily accessible.
The local business owner filmed video inside the store to show dozens of hoes stacked behind a glass partition (pictured).
‘If you want to do a bit of forking, you can buy some forks…that’s no drama. “If you want to buy big scissors… you can buy a lot of scissors,” he said.
Shane acknowledged that the state’s new knife laws are “a serious thing” and “I wasn’t trying to pull any punches.”
“Go to Bunnings to buy a pickaxe and you can’t because of the knife laws, but you can buy a saw and you can buy scissors… weird,” he said.
The clip also showed the notice on the glass screen, which said “sale of knives and other controlled items to minors is prohibited.”
Another sign, which had been placed below, read: “Dear customer, please ask a team member to access these products.”
Bunnings operations Marg Walford said the retail giant worked closely with the community to ensure customer needs were met while protecting the safety of shoppers and staff.
“We are working to fully comply with the new laws on knives and other sharp items which came into force on September 1 this year,” Ms Walford said. yahoo.
Shane acknowledged that knife laws are “serious business” but pointed out that there are other tools sold in the store that are more dangerous (pictured at Bunnings store).
“Our stores will continue to require customers to prove they are at least 18 years old before they can purchase items with blades, in line with our current policy.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bunnings for further comment.
New laws came into force in Queensland on September 1 and prohibit the sale of knives to under-18s.
Legislation requires retailers to securely store items such as double-edged knives, machetes, hatchets and hatchets.
Businesses must also display clear signage when an age-restricted item is sold in the store.
The Queensland Government’s new laws came into force on September 1 and ban the sale of knives to under-18s (pictured, Bunnings Caloundra).
Retailers caught breaking the laws will receive a whopping fine of $67,746.
Under the new laws, police can use portable metal detectors in various locations, including shopping centres, sports and entertainment venues and public transport, to prevent knife crime.
The rules are an expansion of Jack’s Law, passed by the Queensland government in 2023.
The legislation was introduced following the death of teenager Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed on the Gold Coast during a night out in 2019.