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Western Australian police have banned at least six people from protesting inside the security zone of the Land Forces defence expo in Perth. Temporary powers allow officers to stop, search and evict people and impose penalties of up to three years in jail and a $36,000 fine for entering the restricted area.
WA Police has banned at least six people from protesting inside the security zone at a defence expo to be held next week. At least a handful of people have already been banned from protesting at a major defence conference next week in Perth.
WA Police has been given additional temporary powers to manage the expo after new legislation was passed last month. A handful of people have already been banned from protesting at a major defence conference in Perth, nearly a week before it gets underway, as Western Australian police put their specially enhanced powers to use.
New legislation was passed last month to provide police with temporary powers to manage the Land Forces event, which opens next Tuesday at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre with an expected 20,000 delegates. The ABC understands at least six people have received letters from police advising them that they have been banned from protesting inside the security zone. Darren Seivwright said some of those banned had behavioural problems, including "criminal histories".
A letter seen by the ABC warned the recipient that they could be arrested and jailed for three years, as well as fined $36,000 for entering the security area. Victoria Police search the bags of people protesting against the Land Forces Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2024.
The WA government has said the additional powers given to police are aimed at preventing a repeat of theThey come into effect today until October 10 to provide appropriate security for the expo's duration, including its set-up and pack down. Several groups, including the WA Anti-War Collective and the Greens, have said they would protest against the event.
Within the security zone, which encompasses the Convention Centre and Elizabeth Quay bus port, police can stop and search and evict whoever they choose. Police Minister Reece Whitby described the security measures for Land Forces as the "biggest police operation" in the state due to a "heightened security environment".
"What we want to see is this event occur safely … we will not tolerate what occurred in Melbourne at the last Land Forces," he said. ABC News: Courtney Withers"This is all about keeping Western Australians safe. This is an important event for Western Australia strategically, commercially, for a whole other range of reasons.
" WA Police Commander Darren Seivwright said the legislation was "judiciously applied" to determine who was excluded. Darren Seivwright speaking to reporters about the the Land Forces event.
"Those that have been excluded have earned it through previous suboptimal behaviour, and if there's any similar behaviour during the event, they will join the excluded person's list. " When asked why people have been issued bans, he indicated some had behavioural problems including "criminal histories". Activists have slammed the police powers and what they call a lack of transparency.
ABC News: Courtney WithersGreens MLC Sophie McNeill said police were "trying to stop protests" by targeting "peaceful activists who have no history of violence".
"We know some of these individuals who have received these letters, and they have no history of any violent protest," Ms McNeill said. "This is an incredible waste of police resources at a time we're facing a domestic violence crisis in this state. " Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Rohan Simpson said police "owe it to protesters" to give reasons for the bans.
Supplied: Human Rights Law Centre"If you are being told by police that you can't attend a particular event and therefore you can't exercise your right to protest and express your political opinion, then the onus is on police to explain why they think you're a threat," he said.
"The notices that people have received today, and I've seen quite a few of them, they're just generic template letters. ""The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and anti-war activists play a really important role in exposing the use of weapons in human rights abuses around the world. "
WA Police Protest Ban Land Forces Expo Temporary Police Powers Perth Security Zone
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