Victoria’s state opposition is calling on Premier Jacinta Allan to urgently pass laws banning protesters from wearing face coverings, with offenders potentially facing jail time.
The push comes in response to recent violent demonstrations in Melbourne’s central business district, where police officers were attacked by unruly protesters.
The Coalition has proposed the Safer Protest (Registration System and Ban on Face Coverings) Bill 2025, which aims to:
- Establish a protest registration scheme,
- Ban problem protesters from attending events, and
- Make wearing face coverings at protests a jailable offence.
The government had previously blocked the introduction of the bill into the lower house in August, citing opposition to a permit system for protests. Shadow police minister David Southwick has offered a compromise: splitting the bill so the face-coverings ban could be voted on immediately, while the broader registration system undergoes further debate.
Southwick argued that public safety should transcend partisan politics. “This is about protecting every Victorian,” he said, urging Premier Allan to adopt a bipartisan approach.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting that weekly protests in Melbourne are disrupting the city, threatening visitors, and intimidating residents. He added that recent violent attacks on police represented “the final straw” and called on the government to support stronger protest laws immediately.
The proposed legislation would grant the Supreme Court the authority to ban problem protesters from attending events or halt protests entirely. Offences under the law include:
- Wearing a face covering at a protest (excluding religious coverings) — up to three months in jail,
- Other “problematic” protest behaviours — up to two years in prison.
Premier Allan had previously promised to overhaul protest laws, stating that legislation would be introduced before the end of the year. However, increased protest activity and violent clashes in Melbourne’s CBD have intensified pressure on the government to act.
The bill represents a significant tightening of protest regulations in Victoria, aiming to balance the right to peaceful protest with the safety of the public and law enforcement.
