Maintaining Public Order And Building Safer Communities
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:
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:
Face Coverings Prohibition:
Strengthened move-on laws:
Exclusion Orders for Repeat Offenders:
Safeguarding Free Speech:
https://vic.liberal.org.au/article/2025-08-12-maintaining-public-order-and-building-safer-communities