‘Bizarre’ new Bunnings rule baffles shoppers

A tradie was stunned when he discovered a common gardening tool behind glass doors at his local Bunnings.

Business owner Shane visited the hardware store in Caloundra, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, this weekend to buy a garden hoe.

The mechanic, who runs Procheck Automotive, later posted a TikTok video from inside, showing dozens of the tools stacked behind a perspex screen.

“They’re all locked up and we have to talk to the customer service team to get one,” Shane explained in the video.

“So I went to the customer service guy and he comes and tells us he can’t give us one [garden hoes] without taking what we want to the counter when we go there.”

After receiving assistance from the staff, Shane was told by the employee that they had to take the garden tools to the cash register and that he could not hold them until the purchase had been made.

‘I thought it was a bit bizarre. “I’ve never seen that before,” he said.

Shane was confused by the new safety measures, now that more dangerous products such as scissors and saws are more easily accessible.

“If you want to do some forks, you can buy some forks…there’s no drama. “If you want to buy a big pair of scissors… you can buy a whole bunch of scissors,” he said.

Shane acknowledged that the state’s new knife laws are a ‘serious matter’ and ‘wasn’t trying to take the p**s.

“Going to Bunnings to buy a pickaxe but you can’t because of the knife laws, but you can buy a saw and buy scissors… weird,” he said.

The clip also showed the message on the glass screen that read “the sale of knives and other controlled items to minors is prohibited.”

Another sign, posted below, read: “Dear customer, please contact a team member to access these products.”

Bunnings operations Marg Walford said the retail giant was working closely with the community to ensure customer needs were met while protecting the safety of shoppers and staff.

“We have done our best to fully comply with the new laws around knives and other bladed objects that came into force on September 1 this year,” Ms Walford said. Yahoo.

Shane acknowledged that knife laws are a ‘serious matter’ but pointed out that there are other tools sold in the store that are more dangerous (Bunnings store photo)

‘Our stores will continue to require customers to prove they are at least 18 years old before purchasing blade items, in line with our existing policies.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bunnings for further comment.

The new laws came into effect in Queensland on September 1 and ban the sale of knives to anyone under the age of 18.

The legislation requires retailers to safely store items such as double-edged knives, machetes, tomahawks and axes.

Businesses must also provide clear signage when an age-restricted item is sold in-store.

The Queensland Government’s new laws came into effect on September 1 and ban the sale of knives to anyone under the age of 18 (photo Bunnings Caloundra)

Retailers caught violating the laws will be hit with a fine of as much as $67,746.

Under the new laws, police can use portable metal detectors in a variety of places, including shopping centres, sports and entertainment venues and public transport, to prevent knife crime.

The rules are an extension of Jack’s Law, which was 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.