Wednesday 15 November 2023
Restoring move-on powers for police to keep Victorians safe
The Liberals and Nationals will seek to reinstate move-on powers for Victoria Police to ensure the safety of all Victorians.
It follows a number of recent incidents including last Friday’s protest outside a synagogue in Caulfield, and a group of neo-Nazis who marched through train carriages demanding to know if passengers were Jewish.
The Liberals and Nationals will seek to introduce the Summary Offences Amendment (Move-on Laws and Exclusion Orders) Bill 2023 into the Victorian Parliament.
This Bill will reinstate to Victoria Police (and PSOs in designated areas) the full range of move-on powers they previously exercised before they were stripped away by Labor in 2015.
The Bill reasserts the authority of courts to issue exclusion orders to people who repeatedly breach a move-on direction. Grounds for the issuing of a move-on direction under the Bill include:
- The conduct of the person is causing a reasonable apprehension of violence in another person
- The person has committed, within the last 12 hours, an offence in the public place
- The person is impeding another person from lawfully entering or leaving premises.
The Bill will empower Victoria Police to arrest a person in contravention of a move-on direction.
Shadow Attorney-General, Michael O’Brien, said: “It is clear that Victoria Police need move-on powers in order to keep the peace and protect faith communities and others across our community from harassment.
“Labor stripped Victoria Police of the ability to deal quickly with violent demonstrations and other actions that cause fear and intimidation in the community.
“These powers worked before and they are proportionate and necessary to preserve public order. Everybody has the right to be free from harassment, including on account of their faith.
“Victoria is a strong multicultural state which prides itself on its diversity and harmony. We must not allow it to be undermined by denying Victoria Police sensible powers to deal with those whose actions put community safety at risk.
“Victoria’s Liberals and Nationals are stepping up to protect Victorians. Now it is time for the Allan Labor Government to do the same and pass these laws without delay.”