Victoria to Introduce New Protest and Anti-Vilification Laws Following Recent Attacks
On 22 December 2025, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced that the state will introduce legislation giving the police commissioner the power to stop or move on public protests within a defined period after a designated terrorist event. The legislation, modelled on New South Wales's framework that can ban protests for up to 14 days, will be considered by Parliament in 2026. Legal advice is being sought to align Victoria's rules with those of NSW regarding triggers and duration.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush supports the plan, stating that Victoria does not require a protest-permit system like NSW but endorses vetoing protests deemed inappropriate. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a Critical Incident Response Team equipped with long-arm semi-automatic rifles will be deployed alongside about 120 additional officers. Similar law enforcement deployments will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for other major events, such as the Australian Open.
The Victorian government will also fast-track the civil-law aspects of new anti-vilification laws expected to come into effect in April 2026. These laws will remove the requirement for consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions before vilification charges can proceed. Proposals include holding social media platforms liable for anonymous vilification through jurist examination, with potential extensions to online forums and news comment sections.
Additional measures include a gun-law review led by former police commissioner Ken Lay and the development of a new strategy to prevent and counter extremism overseen by a dedicated commissioner. A council of eminent Victorians will be appointed to develop long-term goals and implement the federal antisemitism recommendations made by Jillian Segal.
Premier Allan framed this comprehensive security and legal package as a protection measure for Melbourne’s Jewish community, citing the December 14 attack on Jews and the Bondi Beach attack as urgent contexts necessitating swift government action.
