Police and protesters have clashed outside the Melbourne venue where a major defence and weapons exhibition is being held.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If the name rings a bell, you might remember the ugly clashes in Melbourne when it hosted the last event in 2024, including police being pelted with rocks and horse manure and accusations of excessive force.<\/p>\n
The WA government says it needs new wide-ranging laws, set to be debated by WA’s upper house today, to avoid a repeat of those scenes.<\/p>\n
Police Minister Reece Whitby said the government and WA Police recognised the right to “peacefully gather, celebrate and protest.”<\/p>\n
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Reece Whitby says public order is a priority with the bill. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n
“But that right must be balanced with the need to maintain public order and community safety,” he said.<\/p>\n
What powers will police have?<\/p>\n
For a period of 10 days stretching either side of the event, officers will be able to close roads at short notice, stop and search anyone in the area and ban others entirely.<\/p>\n
Police will also be able to confiscate a range of items from people in the area, including reptiles and insects “capable of causing harm”, ropes, handcuffs, adhesives, flares and glass bottles.<\/p>\n
Those powers will apply around the convention centre, including along part of Mounts Bay Road, as well as the Elizabeth Quay train station and bus port, a nearby office building and hotel.<\/p>\n
Additional areas can also be created by the police commissioner on short notice if needed.<\/p>\n
Who can they ban?<\/p>\n
Commissioner Blanch said he planned to ban people involved with the protests in Melbourne who may travel to Perth to create similar scenes.<\/p>\n
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Police Commissioner Col Blanch wants the expo to go smoothly without anyone being harmed. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)<\/p>\n
A new facial recognition system currently being trialled by WA Police<\/a> will likely be used to help enforce those bans.<\/p>\n People on the banned list don’t have to be told they are banned and cannot appeal that decision easily.<\/p>\n Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz worries powers like this could inflame tensions.<\/p>\n Sarah Schwartz is concerned over the potentially heavy police presence. (ABC News: Abbey Haberecht)<\/p>\n She said part of the reason for the clashes in Melbourne was that police actions contributed to “escalating the level of violence”.<\/p>\n “And so we are really concerned that a heavy police presence [and] granting police extraordinary powers to harass and restrict peaceful protest actually does the opposite of keeping protesters safe,” she said.<\/p>\n Can the government pass these laws?<\/p>\n The Human Rights Law Centre doesn’t think so, and has written to the attorney-general to warn they could be unconstitutional.<\/p>\n That’s because the Australian constitution contains an implied right to freedom of political communication, which means anything which stops things like protests has to be “necessary and proportionate”, according to Ms Schwartz.<\/p>\n She argued the laws would not give police greater powers to tackle violence, but would instead restrict peaceful protest \u2014 something the commissioner disagreed with.<\/p>\n “In fact, it’s encouraging protests by making it safe for protesters as well,” he told 102.5 ABC Perth.<\/p>\n Do you know more?<\/p>\n Contact Keane Bourke on encrypted email<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Ms](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7bf7b8521991151e744b47b6a1089056.jpeg\")
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