Spanky,

There were plenty of posts before I mentioned the Greens, if they have a problem with people defending themselves then they come into the discussion.

In today's Sun-Herald there is a letter pointing out that the police in NSW have solved 13 of the 15 knife murders mentioned in the article. All to the good but not of much consolation to the families, loved ones and friends of those murdered.

So back to the question that so few seem willing to answer.

What can be done?
More importantly what can be done that will be effective?

Is Mise,
Lets look at your question "Knife attacks. what can be done?"

Body armour? Really smelly aftershave? A pack of rottweilers?

Somehow, somwhere, if the perp is going to use a knife, he'll use it, whether in a crowded train station, a bus stop, in the dead of night, it's silent and quick, easy to conceal and doesn't take much to find a vital spot if he gets up close and personal. This is why they use a knife.
The presence of police, although ever present in most places, cannot be everywhere at once, it's all up to the individual as to how he is able to tackle a situation.
Although it's against the law to carry a weapon for self defence, it still boils down to the fact of fighting fire with fire, otherwise the authorities would have to carry out a psychological assessment of individuals, to enable them to carry self defence weapons so as not to use them other than to protect themselves.
We live in a society where we as humans will find ways to evade the laws laid-down to protect, but who protects those who protects us? Ourselves!

Do I read you right, Spanky?
Are you saying that it is ultimately up to us to protect ourselves?

Smelly after shave is OK, by the way, but body armour is illegal.

Is Mise,
Picture this:
You walk home at night from being out to the movies, you walk past a back entry between two buildings, a guy jumps out and holds a knife to your throat, what do you do?
You can do either one of three things:
1)Give the guy what he wants (hopefully in this day and age, it's not a sexual thing)
2)Calmly speak to him and avoid eye contact and try to diffuse the situation, then give him what he wants, hopefully, it's your wallet he's after and again, not as outlined in (1)
3)whilst speaking calmly to him, look and feel around for something resembling a house brick and chance that he's not going to give you a second mouth!
Yes... I am saying, that in the end, if push comes to shove and no help is at hand, defend yourself, because by the time anyone has seen the trouble you are in and by the time the police show-up, the guy has probably gutted you and left you for dead, at least you will have tried.
Some of these "bar stewards" just pig stick you for no rhyme nor reason and they get away with it, at least gouge his eye out or something, even if he has stabbed you, chances are, the stab wound you get might be superficial(then again, as luck would have it, maybe not) but at least you will have given him something to think twice about.
Being in a position where there are two or more assailants to face up to, would make one think, what the hell are you doing in that type of neighbourhood anyway?

Good, Spanky, we agree that resistance is OK.

My preferred option is to appear to give in then deliver a stiff two fingers to the eyes and if successful a swift kick to the 'family jewels', to make sure of one's safety.

Anything further would, though understandable, warrant prosecution.
Best to leave the scene.

Is Mise - it may warrant prosecution. In practice, in most cases, self defence is accepted as just that.

The prosecution you describe is the exception, not the norm.