Labor has blocked legislation to ban face coverings in protests with the help of the Greens, Legalise Cannabis Party and Animal Justice Party in state parliament.
The Safer Protest with a Registration System and Ban on Face Coverings Bill 2025 was introduced into parliament by the Liberals and Nationals to urgently address the rolling violent and disruptive protest activity occurring in Victoria. The legislation proposed:
- A protest registration system to allow for safe, coordinated demonstrations
- A ban on face coverings, with exemptions for religious reasons
- Stronger police powers to manage unlawful protest activity
- Penalties for repeat offenders, including 12-month bans from protest zones.
The Nationals’ Melina Bath said in voting down the legislation Labor betrayed the public, small business and Victoria Police who are bearing the brunt of relentless demonstrations.
“Violent and disruptive protests are having a profound impact on the economy and liveability.
“They are a huge drain on regional police resourcing as frontline officers are being channelled into the CBD to manage protests, away from their country stations.
“Victoria Police reported over 500 protests in Melbourne last year, that equates to thousands of regional police officers being redeployed.
“Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy, but what we’re seeing is coordinated, dangerous disruption.”
Ms Bath thanked Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections, David Southwick for his leadership on the Bill and reaffirmed the Nationals and Liberals’ bipartisan offer to work with the government to protect public safety, support businesses and safeguard frontline workers.
“Protestors cannot continue to block emergency services, threaten small businesses and throw dangerous missiles at police as they are putting lives at risk.
“It’s unacceptable that Labor’s continuing to put its political ideology ahead of community safety – these protests are costing taxpayers millions and preventing police from dealing with serious crime.
“The legislation would have brought Victoria in line with other jurisdictions, delivered a framework for safer protests and given police the tools they need to keep our streets safer for everyone.”
