The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has supported calls to introduce a registration system for safer protests in Victoria.
The Liberals and Nationals introduced the ‘Safer Protest with a Registration System and a Ban on Face Coverings Bill 2025’ into Parliament.
“Peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy,” Ms Broad said.
“But in recent years, we’ve seen a rise in protest activity that is disruptive and dangerous, blocking traffic, interfering with emergency services, and placing frontline workers at risk.”
Ms Broad highlighted incidents in Melbourne where major intersections were gridlocked and emergency services were hindered, costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars and diverting thousands of police hours away from serious crime.
Ms Broad said the proposed registration system would:
- Allow peaceful protest while protecting the rights of other Victorians;
- Enable police to plan and allocate resources more effectively;
- Bring Victoria in line with other jurisdictions that already have protest registration frameworks;
- Empower police to direct individuals to remove face coverings, with exemptions for religious reasons.
“This is not about silencing voices – it’s about keeping communities safe and businesses operating,” Ms Broad said.
A registration system will enable Victorian Police to better balance the resources required for protest management and work collaboratively with organisers to ensure the safety of other Victorians.
“Victorians have had enough of the chaos, and they want the Allan Labor Government to take action to address this ongoing issue,” she said.
“We live in a free society, but freedom must come with responsibility. Victorians deserve to feel safe, whether they’re attending a protest or walking past one.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
