Same in SA. One needs a valid reason, not an excuse to carry a knife.

Yes a pocket knife is unobtrusive because it is hidden. But is still covered by the legislation.

I almost always wearing a Leatherman on my belt. I try to remember to leave it in the car when going to the shops. But slicing open an envelope at the post office box is legitimate usage.

I was shocked to learn having a knife in your car is regarded as carrying it in public as well. I've got probably several knives and axes permanent in my Landcruiser. It's a storage site for working and hunting tools, at hand where I need them. Tools and hunting equipment, not weapons.

If I go to the city I don't remove them. They're still tools. The axes and saws can cut tree branches in the garden. At the moment chopping up a bushes branches. Same for knives, using one to cut irrigation hoses I'm reinstalling. My car boot is half filled with tools. Two houses, tools in the vehicles are available at either house.

"But Sir, you aren't cutting hoses right now?" "Sir, you aren't cutting baling twine... skinning a rabbit or deer, ... Opening an envelope ? ... Etc .... One might get asked by some inane Gestapo following orders. What can one do?

I was told "John. these laws aren't aimed at people like you and me." They were introduced because of alleged Asian street gang knife violence. Allegedly. The excuse for draconian controls. I never know till I reread the laws recently, the website had changed to say certain things were outright prohibited. But no change to the real actual laws. But a knife anywhere near a pub is very prohibited. Again when I drive through a drive through or park they're tools, not weapons for gang fights.

A real problem for shooters, is a spurious knife carrying charge will get the cops claiming you aren't a fit and proper person to own legal firearms,Even if a court knocks down the charge, one will have had firearms confiscated, licence suspended and have to fight to get them back.

All of this is unlikely in a free and honest country. But in Victoria the govt showed it's not. And also if one gets a target on ones back, eg for political reasons, increasingly such spurious actions are used to harass and oppress.

I hope decent coppers can exercise sensible judgement.