Perth Police Gear Up for Defence Expo with Expanded Powers

As Perth prepares to host a significant defence expo from October 6 to 8, authorities are warning residents of impending disruptions and the introduction of new police powers aimed at ensuring security. The Land Forces defence and weapons expo is expected to attract around 10,000 visitors from both interstate and international locations, raising concerns about public safety following the violent clashes seen during a previous event in Melbourne.

To bolster security measures, the WA government is proposing legislation that would give police the authority to stop and search individuals without cause around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. This includes areas like the Elizabeth Quay train station and adjacent bus port. Additionally, police will be allocated $11.5 million for event security, which includes $4.4 million earmarked for new equipment.

Police Minister Reece Whitby emphasized the necessity of balancing the right to protest with the need for public order, stating that these laws are essential to prevent a repeat of the Melbourne disturbances. For a 10-day period surrounding the expo, officers will have the discretion to close roads, search individuals, and even ban certain people from the area. Items deemed dangerous, including flares and glass bottles, may also be confiscated.

In a controversial move, the police commissioner plans to preemptively ban individuals linked to the Melbourne protests from entering the area, utilizing a new facial recognition system to enforce these bans. Critics, including the Human Rights Law Centre, have voiced concerns that such measures could lead to increased tensions and undermine the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

Legal director Sarah Schwartz warned that the extraordinary powers granted to police could escalate violence rather than mitigate it, arguing that the laws might be unconstitutional by infringing on the implied right to freedom of political communication. In contrast, Commissioner Col Blanch defended the measures as a means to facilitate safe protests, expressing hope that the event would proceed without incident.

Source: www.abc.net.au