Knives in Australia.

You may land with one in your pocket but you sure won't be leaving with it. Only place for it is in your suit case. They will confiscate it if it's on your person or in your hand luggage.

I think the law says it's illegal to carry knives in a public place, but it's something that's only enforced as a secondary item, that is. if you're caught doing something else and you are carrying a knife then you'll get charged for that as well.
Don't think I've ever heard of anyone being harrassed for carrying a knife while camping.

A bit exagerated. Most states have a list of prohibited weapons. See the SA version below. It is not just blade length but the style as well. Queensland will be a bit different.

Q: What are prohibited weapons?

These weapons are prohibited weapons:

Ballistic knives.
Catapults, shanghais and slingshots that have a brace.
Three different types of chemicals that are often called tear gas, mace and adamsite.
Concealed weapons - that is, a thing that appears to be harmless, but which conceals a knife, spike or other weapon. For example, a walking stick that conceals a sword or an object that looks like a lipstick, but which in fact conceals a stiletto or blade.
Extendable batons that are extended by gravity, centrifugal force or by release of a button or other device.
Fighting knives (ie butterfly knives, daggers, flick knives, push knives, trench knives or other kinds of knives designed or adapted for hand to hand fighting (but not bayonets or swords).
Hand or foot claws that are designed as a weapon.
Knife belts that conceal or disguise a knife, dagger or similar weapon. An example is a belt of the type known as a Bowen Knife Belt.
Knuckle dusters.
Morning stars, that is, weapons that consist of a weight, attached to a chain, rope or other flexible material. In some cases the weight has a number of points, spikes or blades.
Nunchakus.
Pistol cross bows.
Star knives that are capable of causing serious injury.
Throwing knives that are capable of causing serious injury.
Undetectable knives, that is a knife that is capable of causing serious injury and is made of a material that is undetectable by a metal detector or X-ray machine.
Full written descriptions of these weapons are set out in schedule 2 of the Summary Offences (Dangerous Articles and Prohibited Weapons) Regulations 2000.

Illustrations of some of these weapons are in brochures available from the Police and Attorney-General's Department and in Council offices and public libraries.

These items are dangerous articles:

Anti-theft cases that give an electric shock.
Bayonets.
Blowguns.
Catapults, shanghais and slingshots without a brace made for commercial distribution.
Dart projectors- eg Darchery Dart Slinger.
Self-protecting spray - eg capsicum spray.
Hand held self-protection devices that emit or discharge electric current, sound waves or electromagnetic energy that is capable of immobilising, incapacitating or injuring another person.
Shark darts of the type that injects a gas or other substance into the body of the target. E.g. Farallon Shark Dart.
Full written descriptions of these items are set out in Schedule 1 of the Summary Offences (Dangerous Articles and Prohibited Weapons) Regulations 2000.

This looks like a good source with links to the legsliation.

Queensland Knife Laws

Pete

In most states anything four inches and over. I had being pulled up by police, with a pocket knife in bag, that was in qld, i'm lucky they only wanted to search myself and not my laptop bag.

maybe, just maybe you have been over there to long, just guessing as we sort of dont feel the need to carry guns n knives over here ...... not havin a crack at you either but we are starting to see comments about flags for gen sets, no kids allowed, no swimming in water cause the fish die from farts, no good to sit on the bonnet to vid the water on that trip of a lifetime ...
Dunno but we seem to be fencing ourselfs in and losing our Aussie culture ...
May i ask what the reason is for the knife, i do carry one when fishing and others when piggin ect ?????

I have always carried knives of various kinds. I now carry a very small swiss army knife on my keys and a leatherman tool in my camera bag, a yachting knife and marlin spike in my car as well as a machete.

I have never had a problem with police but I have never used a knife as a weapon either.

If you have a good reason to carry one ( utility or rescue ) and are mature about it you will have no problems.

The N.S.W police have informed me recently you are allowed to carry a knife if it is directly being used for your business/recreation you are performing in at the time. This includes travel to and from the activity.

You are not allowed to carry knife for personal protection.

EG.
A storeman is allowed to have a knife, as it directly used in cutting boxes, stapes etc. This person can transport it to and from work.

A fisherman/hunter can carry a knife (usualy larger than 4inches) for gutting etc.


What is funny, is that a shop can legally sell many of the above weapons, (butterfly knives, sligshots etc) but they are illegal to own.