Amnesty International Australia warns the protests laws passed today in Victoria risk restricting people’s right to protest, while welcoming the removal of a proposed blanket ban on face coverings at protests.
The Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Act 2025 introduces new restrictions on protest rights, including banning the use of attachment devices, and restrictions on protests around places of worship. These measures mark a significant increase in protest-related policing powers in the Victoria.
Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right under international law and an essential tool for people to demand justice and accountability.
New powers introduced were unnecessary to address the law’s stated aim of countering hate. Existing legislation already provides police with adequate powers to address hateful conduct, including targeting of places of worship, violence and vilification.
These laws will disproportionately impact people with disability, healthcare workers and carers, victim-survivors of family and sexual violence, multicultural and religious communities, and members of diaspora communities, many of whom frequently wear face coverings while protesting.
Granting police greater powers risks increasing marginalised communities’ interactions with police, and arbitrary or excessive use of force.
Granting police greater powers risks increasing marginalised communities’ interactions with police, and arbitrary or excessive use of force.
Peaceful protestors have safely long used attachment devices like glues, ropes, and locks as part of protests that have made the world a better place. The ban on attachment devices is overly broad and risks restricting Victorians’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
Critically, attachment devices are used primarily by climate activists. They are not used by neo-Nazis and banning them will not meet the law’s stated aim of addressing hate. The restrictions on protests near places of worship are likewise disproportionate.
Amnesty urges the Victorian Government to adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing the systemic causes of hate to ensure everyone, especially vulnerable groups, can live free from violence, vilification and discrimination.
People practicing their faith must be able to do so safely, free from harassment, intimidation, and violence. However, many places of worship are situated along common protest routes in Melbourne, meaning protestors could accidentally breach the law simply by passing these sites at an unrelated protest.
Amnesty strongly condemns the racist, antisemitic, and violent attacks that have taken place in Victoria in recent years. Amnesty urges the Victorian Government to adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing the systemic causes of hate to ensure everyone, especially vulnerable groups, can live free from violence, vilification and discrimination.
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