A Brad Battin-led Government will introduce a protest registration system as part of a five-point plan to restore and maintain public order on our streets and in our communities.
After Labor's decade long soft on crime approach, only the Liberals and Nationals have the plan and the commitment to keep our streets and communities safe from dangerous and disruptive protests.
The significant public safety and economic impacts of recent protests highlights the need for better management of protest activity and a framework to support Victorians exercising their right to protest in a safe and orderly manner.
The Liberals and Nationals will:
- Introduce a protest registration system.
- Ban face coverings.
- Strengthen 'Move-On' laws.
- Tackle repeat offenders, and
- Safeguard free speech.
Opposition Leader, Brad Battin, said: "Under a government I lead, law abiding citizens will be prioritised ahead of those who seek to disrupt the activities of Victorians or endanger public safety.
"In recent years we have seen a continual escalation of dangerous protests where fires have been lit, roads blocked, citizens and Victoria police members attacked. It is time to re-balance the scales.
"The measures we are putting forward strike the right balance between ensuring our communities are safe and the right of demonstrators to protest peacefully and appropriately.
"This balance will be achieved by the permit protest registration system and the legal protections for people who participate in authorised public protests."
Shadow Minister for Police, David Southwick, said: "Victorians should not be held to ransom by those who seek to undermine public order and safety, no matter their cause.
"It has been almost 240 days since the Allan Labor Government said it would ban face masks at protests and it has delivered nothing.
"It has the chance to do the right thing and support the Liberals and Nationals in our efforts to protect Victorians and build safer communities.
"Managing the more than 500 protests in Melbourne's CBD since October 2023, has resulted in more than 22,000 full police shifts having been diverted from fighting crime. This just can't go on."
Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O'Brien, said: "Extremists who want to disguise their identities in order to commit violent offences at demonstrations need to be held accountable.
"This is a strong and measured change to the law that respects the right to protest while ensuring that violent behaviour will not continue to go unchecked."
AT A GLANCE
Protest Registration:
- Protest organisers would be required to register the purpose, time, and location of and expected participants in their protest with Victoria Police. The Police would have the ability to suggest changes to the conduct of a protest based on the risks to public order, public safety, and critical infrastructure.
- Victoria Police would have discretion when reviewing an application by assessing risks to public safety, public order, and critical infrastructure and can suggest changes and plan for adequate resources to manage these events.
- Participants in registered protests would be protected from certain prosecutions such as obstruction.
- Protests planned for public places that will not obstruct free access to the public would not be expected to apply to register.
Face Coverings Prohibition:
- The wearing of face coverings at public assemblies or protests without a lawful excuse will be prohibited. This measure will assist Victoria Police in identifying offenders, deterring violent behaviour, and protecting the community.
- Religious reasons for wearing a face covering will be fully respected and accepted under the law.
- Under the proposed changes, a person must not, without lawful excuse, wear any article that conceals a substantial part of their face at a protest or public assembly.
- Police will have the power to direct a person to remove a face covering and arrest those who refuse to comply. Breaches will carry penalties of up to thirty penalty units (approximately $6,100) or three months' imprisonment.
Strengthened move-on laws:
- The Liberals and Nationals strengthened move-on laws that were repealed by the Labor government in 2015 will be reintroduced, with additional grounds for the issuing of a move-on direction.
- A move-on direction will be issued if the conduct of the person is causing a reasonable apprehension of violence in another person.
- The person has committed, within the past 12 hours, an offence in the public place.
- The person is impeding another person from lawfully entering or leaving premises.
Exclusion Orders for Repeat Offenders:
- Reintroduction of the move-on laws that were repealed by the Labor government in 2015 will reassert the authority of courts to issue exclusion orders to people who repeatedly breach a move-on direction.
- Anyone who breaches an exclusion order faces two years imprisonment or a fine of $48,840
- The applicant for the exclusion order or the person who is the subject of the order can apply to the court for the order to be revoked.
Safeguarding Free Speech:
- Participants in registered protests or public assemblies will have certain legal protections.
- A protester participating in a lawful registered protest cannot be convicted of obstructing a public place, even if they cause a disruption, provided they demonstrate in accordance with the protest registration.
