The Victorian government has tabled a suite of new anti-protest measures that will criminalise protestors under the guise of tackling ‘dangerous’ behaviour.

The new restrictions include:

• Police powers to order removal of facemasks at protests (unless a medical or religious reason can be presented)

• A ban on ‘attachment devices’, including glue, rope, and chains – use of which have long been an essential part of protest movements protecting people's rights and our environment

• Introduction of an offence for ‘disrupting’ religious worship, written so broadly as to inadvertently criminalise protests in the vicinity of religious institutions

Police already have a range of powers to protect people’s safety against criminal behaviour and violence. This legislation has nothing to do with protecting the community, and only further shrinks the already threatened space for political dissent.

Criminalising protest reduces our ability to engage in public debates and puts vulnerable communities at risk. It does nothing to combat violent extremism.

The proposed legislation faces objection from community, legal, health, human rights and faith groups. Will you add your voice to our call for protest rights?

Use our simple tool to email your local MP and Premier Jacinta Allan, demanding the proposed laws are shelved or sent to committee for proper consultation. You can send the template letter as is, but it will be more impactful if you personalise it. This could look like adding:

• A bit about yourself and your connection to your community (Perhaps you are a mum with kids at the local school, or a member of a community sports team or faith group). It’s important to show our representatives that all kinds of people support protest rights.

• Why you care about this issue – maybe you are part of an impacted community, want to reflect the way historical protest movement wins have improved our society, or have a personal protest story to share.

We must push back and fight for the right to protest, a right that has secured us civil and workplace rights, protection for the most vulnerable and helped protect our precious environment.

Please send a letter to Premier Allan and her colleagues today, using the template provided.