#victoriapolice — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #victoriapolice, aggregated by home.social.
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Police criticised for using tasers on people in inappropriate and unnecessary situations
It was a routine so familiar to Stephen he could do it on autopilot: check the shed was…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #Axon #firearms #fourcorners #gracetobin #nswpolice #police #policeshootings #Queenslandpolice #taser #taseruse #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/645071/ -
Police criticised for using tasers on people in inappropriate and unnecessary situations
It was a routine so familiar to Stephen he could do it on autopilot: check the shed was…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #Axon #firearms #fourcorners #gracetobin #nswpolice #police #policeshootings #Queenslandpolice #taser #taseruse #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/645071/ -
Rock climber dies after falling at Organ Pipes near Mount Arapiles
A rock climber has died in hospital after falling from Mount Arapiles in western Victoria yesterday. The 24-year-old…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #ambulancevictoria #AU #climbing #MountArapiles #organpipes #organpipesrockclimberdeath #rockclimber #rockclimbing #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/635190/ -
Rock climber dies after falling at Organ Pipes near Mount Arapiles
A rock climber has died in hospital after falling from Mount Arapiles in western Victoria yesterday. The 24-year-old…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #ambulancevictoria #AU #climbing #MountArapiles #organpipes #organpipesrockclimberdeath #rockclimber #rockclimbing #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/635190/ -
Premier Condemns YouTuber Intrusion into Fallen Officers' Killer's Final Lair
Premier condemns YouTuber for filming Dezi Freeman's hideout, causing distress to officers' families. Police investigate trespassing.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #FallenOfficers, #YouTuberIntrusion, #TrespassingInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/youtuber-films-officers-killers-hideout/
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A YouTuber filmed inside the remote hideout of Dezi Freeman, who killed two police officers. This footage has caused more pain to the officers' families.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #FallenOfficers, #YouTuberIntrusion, #TrespassingInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/youtuber-films-officers-killers-hideout/ -
Sisters of officer Neal Thompson to sue Victoria Police over his fatal shooting by Dezi Freeman
The sisters of slain police officer Neal Thompson, who was shot dead last year by Dezi Freeman, plan…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezithompson #nealthompson #sisters #sue #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/586465/ -
Sisters of officer Neal Thompson to sue Victoria Police over his fatal shooting by Dezi Freeman
The sisters of slain police officer Neal Thompson, who was shot dead last year by Dezi Freeman, plan…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezithompson #nealthompson #sisters #sue #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/586465/ -
TWO ARRESTED, RELEASED IN WAKE OF COP KILLER'S DEATH
Two people arrested and released in Victoria as police investigate who helped cop killer Dezi Freeman escape for 216 days.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #CopKiller, #TaskforceSummit, #CrimeInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/victoria-arrests-probe-cop-killer-dezi-freeman-death/
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TWO ARRESTED, RELEASED IN WAKE OF COP KILLER'S DEATH
Two people arrested and released in Victoria as police investigate who helped cop killer Dezi Freeman escape for 216 days.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #CopKiller, #TaskforceSummit, #CrimeInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/victoria-arrests-probe-cop-killer-dezi-freeman-death/
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Two people were arrested and released in Victoria as part of the investigation into Dezi Freeman's 216-day escape, which followed the deaths of two police officers.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #CopKiller, #TaskforceSummit, #CrimeInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/victoria-arrests-probe-cop-killer-dezi-freeman-death/ -
Two people were arrested and released in Victoria as part of the investigation into Dezi Freeman's 216-day escape, which followed the deaths of two police officers.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #CopKiller, #TaskforceSummit, #CrimeInvestigation
https://newsletter.tf/victoria-arrests-probe-cop-killer-dezi-freeman-death/ -
Freeman's Family Questions Police Tactics After Seven-Month Manhunt
Dezi Freeman's family wants to know why police didn't involve them during the three-hour stand-off that ended his seven-month manhunt on Monday in Walwa.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #Manhunt, #PoliceTactics, #Walwa
https://newsletter.tf/dezi-freeman-family-questions-police-tactics-manhunt/
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Freeman's Family Questions Police Tactics After Seven-Month Manhunt
Dezi Freeman's family wants to know why police didn't involve them during the three-hour stand-off that ended his seven-month manhunt on Monday in Walwa.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #Manhunt, #PoliceTactics, #Walwa
https://newsletter.tf/dezi-freeman-family-questions-police-tactics-manhunt/
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Victoria Police ended a seven-month manhunt for Dezi Freeman on Monday. This operation was one of the largest in Australian history.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #Manhunt, #PoliceTactics, #Walwa
https://newsletter.tf/dezi-freeman-family-questions-police-tactics-manhunt/ -
Victoria Police ended a seven-month manhunt for Dezi Freeman on Monday. This operation was one of the largest in Australian history.
#DeziFreeman, #VictoriaPolice, #Manhunt, #PoliceTactics, #Walwa
https://newsletter.tf/dezi-freeman-family-questions-police-tactics-manhunt/ -
Investigations continue after police shoot fugitive Dezi Freeman dead
Police say they will come down hard on anyone who helped Dezi Freeman, the fugitive who was shot…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezifreeman #dezifreemanaccomplices #dezifreemandead #dezifreemanfound #howlongwasdezifreemanontherun #mikebush #nealthompson #vadimdewaart-hottart #victoriapolice #victoriapolicechiefcommissioner #waynegatt #whatdiddezifreemando
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/574956/ -
Investigations continue after police shoot fugitive Dezi Freeman dead
Police say they will come down hard on anyone who helped Dezi Freeman, the fugitive who was shot…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezifreeman #dezifreemanaccomplices #dezifreemandead #dezifreemanfound #howlongwasdezifreemanontherun #mikebush #nealthompson #vadimdewaart-hottart #victoriapolice #victoriapolicechiefcommissioner #waynegatt #whatdiddezifreemando
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/574956/ -
Essendon North beauty salon firebombed for second time in two days
A beauty salon in Essendon North has been set alight by arsonists twice in two days. About 100…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #arson #AU #beautysalon #evacuation #firebombing #nailsalon #ramraid #residents #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/445974/ -
Expansion of #Victoriapolice search powers in #Melbourne #CBD declared #unlawful.
The order listed the Melbourne CBD & neighbouring suburbs as a designated area where police could stop & search people for weapons without a warrant or any suspicion of wrongdoing.
Police could also direct a person wearing a face covering to leave the area.
#Federalcourt judge Elizabeth Bennett on Friday determined the declaration was #invalid and #unlawful. #VicPol #auspol -
Paddleboarders rescued after drifting from Portarlington to Wyndham Harbour
Police say two holidaymakers are lucky to be alive after being rescued following a three-hour ordeal in cold…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #kayak #paddleboard #paddleboarders #police #portarlington #rescue #TopNews #TopStories #victoriapolice #wyndham
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/372481/ -
Court awards $54,000 to protester for Victoria Police’s use of capsicum spray
A Supreme Court judge has awarded $54,000 in damages to a protester who sued police over their use…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #AU #Australia #capsicumspray #classaction #climateactivists #InternationalMiningandResourcesConference #ocspray #pepperspray #police #protest #VictoriaPolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/304956/ -
Plea to Aussies as cops hope hidden devices could help unlock Dezi Freeman mystery: ‘Makes sense’
Police are urging people to check any trail and hunting cameras left inside Mount Buffalo National Park during…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #dezifreeman #huntingcameras #MikeAtkinson #MountBuffaloNationalPark #policeinvestigations #policeofficers #TopNews #TopStories #trailcameras #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/213354/ -
Dezi Freeman’s wife has urged the alleged Porepunkah gunman to surrender
The wife of alleged gunman Dezi Freeman has urged her husband to surrender and offered her condolences to…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezifreeman #fugitive #gunman #nealthompson #policeshooting #Porepunkahsearch #sovereigncitizen #vadimdewaart #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/108339/ -
Accused gunman Dezi Freeman wrote about dead police on Instagram
An Instagram account belonging to alleged Porepunkah gunman Dezi Freeman once commented that the “only good cop is…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #AU #dezifreeman #police #shooting #victoriapolice
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/100443/ -
#VictoriaAustralia’s draconian new #AntiProtest laws will have a chilling effect on #FreeSpeech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
by Sarah Schwartz, Jul 9, 2025
"In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more #police powers.
"In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to #ClampDown on unrelated democratic rights.
"Taking to the streets in peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to come together and express our political views when our representatives aren’t listening to us. But this right is not without limits. Every person has a right to worship in safety. The attack on East Melbourne Synagogue was not a protest; it was an act of antisemitism. The suspect has been apprehended and charged with a multitude of criminal offences.
"Two other incidents over the weekend, the targeting of a business with ties to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed #Israeli organisation linked to the massacres of unarmed #Palestinians seeking aid — and a weapons company with links to the Israeli military, are also being referred to as justifying new laws. It is important not to conflate these actions against Israel with an attack against a Jewish place of worship. International human rights law, as well as our current laws, already place limits on protests that involve intimidation and violence.
"So what is actually being proposed in response? The Allan government is suggesting the creation of a new criminal offence for wearing a #FaceCovering at peaceful protests, banning 'dangerous attachment devices' (e.g. a #chain, a #BikeLock) — which have long been used in non-violent civil disobedience — and #criminalising peaceful protests around places of religious worship.
"The ban on face coverings would be a first in #Australia. It would mirror measures used in #authoritarian states that force people to submit themselves to various forms of #StateSurveillance.
"#VictoriaPolice has been using facial recognition software for years without any regulatory or legislative framework to prevent breaches of privacy. This technology, combined with a ban on face coverings at protests, would essentially amount to an obligation on behalf of individuals to submit to surveillance by the state, corporations and other groups that surveil protesters.
"Unless you’re a #MiningCompany spending hundreds of millions buying politicians’ favour or can wine and dine decision-makers, peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to hold governments and corporations to account. Protests for the eight-hour workday, #WomensRights, #FirstNationsRights and the #AntiWar movement have led to significant improvements in all of our lives.
Know something?"Many people attending protests wear face coverings to protect their privacy and anonymity. For temporary migrants, the consequences of identification can include visa cancellation and detention. #FarRight groups, abusers of gender-based violence and other political groups have all been documented as engaging in doxing, surveillance and retaliatory violence against people identified at peaceful protests.
"Even with exemptions, a ban would mean that people who wear facemasks for reasons of health, disability status, or religious or cultural reasons would be at risk of police targeting and made to justify their use of a face mask.
"Adding new repressive police powers against peaceful protesters only serves to increase the risk of escalating violence at already heightened public demonstrations. People will not stop taking to the streets on issues they care about, even if the state tries to stifle their voices. Donald #Trump’s deployment of the #NationalGuard in response to protests in LA shows us how deploying more state force at protests increases rather than decreases the risk of violence.
"A ban on protests outside or within a certain proximity to places of worship would mean police could arrest those engaging in peaceful protests for a genuine, non-discriminatory purpose — for example, protests by survivors of #ClergySexualAbuse or by congregants against the political activities of their own religious institutions.
"It would also have the unintended consequence of rendering large areas of the state no-go zones for peaceful protest, due to the high number of places of worship. Similar laws in #NSW are already being challenged for their #unconstitutionality.
"Taken together, this suite of laws, which would provide police with extraordinary powers against people peacefully raising their voices against #injustice, would have a chilling effect, deterring #MarginalisedGroups from attending protests and exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which the Victorian government has sought to protect.
"Ultimately, banning face coverings at peaceful protests and banning protests outside places of worship would not have done anything to prevent what occurred over the weekend. Premier Allan knows this. Yet she is stuck in the same reactive law-and-order merry-go-round that saw NSW Premier Chris Minns enact fear-based, repressive anti-protest measures in response to what we now know was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy.
"Encouraging people to express their political views peacefully is the antidote to non-peaceful forms of protest and is something that all governments should be encouraging and facilitating. At times like this, we should be able to trust our politicians not to fuel division and panic through misguided and knee-jerk responses, but to take measures to address the root causes of racism and hatred."
#AntiProtestLaws #ProtestLawsAustralia #ACAB #SilencingFreeSpeech #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #Authoritarianism
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#VictoriaAustralia’s draconian new #AntiProtest laws will have a chilling effect on #FreeSpeech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
by Sarah Schwartz, Jul 9, 2025
"In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more #police powers.
"In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to #ClampDown on unrelated democratic rights.
"Taking to the streets in peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to come together and express our political views when our representatives aren’t listening to us. But this right is not without limits. Every person has a right to worship in safety. The attack on East Melbourne Synagogue was not a protest; it was an act of antisemitism. The suspect has been apprehended and charged with a multitude of criminal offences.
"Two other incidents over the weekend, the targeting of a business with ties to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed #Israeli organisation linked to the massacres of unarmed #Palestinians seeking aid — and a weapons company with links to the Israeli military, are also being referred to as justifying new laws. It is important not to conflate these actions against Israel with an attack against a Jewish place of worship. International human rights law, as well as our current laws, already place limits on protests that involve intimidation and violence.
"So what is actually being proposed in response? The Allan government is suggesting the creation of a new criminal offence for wearing a #FaceCovering at peaceful protests, banning 'dangerous attachment devices' (e.g. a #chain, a #BikeLock) — which have long been used in non-violent civil disobedience — and #criminalising peaceful protests around places of religious worship.
"The ban on face coverings would be a first in #Australia. It would mirror measures used in #authoritarian states that force people to submit themselves to various forms of #StateSurveillance.
"#VictoriaPolice has been using facial recognition software for years without any regulatory or legislative framework to prevent breaches of privacy. This technology, combined with a ban on face coverings at protests, would essentially amount to an obligation on behalf of individuals to submit to surveillance by the state, corporations and other groups that surveil protesters.
"Unless you’re a #MiningCompany spending hundreds of millions buying politicians’ favour or can wine and dine decision-makers, peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to hold governments and corporations to account. Protests for the eight-hour workday, #WomensRights, #FirstNationsRights and the #AntiWar movement have led to significant improvements in all of our lives.
Know something?"Many people attending protests wear face coverings to protect their privacy and anonymity. For temporary migrants, the consequences of identification can include visa cancellation and detention. #FarRight groups, abusers of gender-based violence and other political groups have all been documented as engaging in doxing, surveillance and retaliatory violence against people identified at peaceful protests.
"Even with exemptions, a ban would mean that people who wear facemasks for reasons of health, disability status, or religious or cultural reasons would be at risk of police targeting and made to justify their use of a face mask.
"Adding new repressive police powers against peaceful protesters only serves to increase the risk of escalating violence at already heightened public demonstrations. People will not stop taking to the streets on issues they care about, even if the state tries to stifle their voices. Donald #Trump’s deployment of the #NationalGuard in response to protests in LA shows us how deploying more state force at protests increases rather than decreases the risk of violence.
"A ban on protests outside or within a certain proximity to places of worship would mean police could arrest those engaging in peaceful protests for a genuine, non-discriminatory purpose — for example, protests by survivors of #ClergySexualAbuse or by congregants against the political activities of their own religious institutions.
"It would also have the unintended consequence of rendering large areas of the state no-go zones for peaceful protest, due to the high number of places of worship. Similar laws in #NSW are already being challenged for their #unconstitutionality.
"Taken together, this suite of laws, which would provide police with extraordinary powers against people peacefully raising their voices against #injustice, would have a chilling effect, deterring #MarginalisedGroups from attending protests and exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which the Victorian government has sought to protect.
"Ultimately, banning face coverings at peaceful protests and banning protests outside places of worship would not have done anything to prevent what occurred over the weekend. Premier Allan knows this. Yet she is stuck in the same reactive law-and-order merry-go-round that saw NSW Premier Chris Minns enact fear-based, repressive anti-protest measures in response to what we now know was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy.
"Encouraging people to express their political views peacefully is the antidote to non-peaceful forms of protest and is something that all governments should be encouraging and facilitating. At times like this, we should be able to trust our politicians not to fuel division and panic through misguided and knee-jerk responses, but to take measures to address the root causes of racism and hatred."
#AntiProtestLaws #ProtestLawsAustralia #ACAB #SilencingFreeSpeech #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #Authoritarianism
-
#VictoriaAustralia’s draconian new #AntiProtest laws will have a chilling effect on #FreeSpeech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
by Sarah Schwartz, Jul 9, 2025
"In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more #police powers.
"In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to #ClampDown on unrelated democratic rights.
"Taking to the streets in peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to come together and express our political views when our representatives aren’t listening to us. But this right is not without limits. Every person has a right to worship in safety. The attack on East Melbourne Synagogue was not a protest; it was an act of antisemitism. The suspect has been apprehended and charged with a multitude of criminal offences.
"Two other incidents over the weekend, the targeting of a business with ties to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed #Israeli organisation linked to the massacres of unarmed #Palestinians seeking aid — and a weapons company with links to the Israeli military, are also being referred to as justifying new laws. It is important not to conflate these actions against Israel with an attack against a Jewish place of worship. International human rights law, as well as our current laws, already place limits on protests that involve intimidation and violence.
"So what is actually being proposed in response? The Allan government is suggesting the creation of a new criminal offence for wearing a #FaceCovering at peaceful protests, banning 'dangerous attachment devices' (e.g. a #chain, a #BikeLock) — which have long been used in non-violent civil disobedience — and #criminalising peaceful protests around places of religious worship.
"The ban on face coverings would be a first in #Australia. It would mirror measures used in #authoritarian states that force people to submit themselves to various forms of #StateSurveillance.
"#VictoriaPolice has been using facial recognition software for years without any regulatory or legislative framework to prevent breaches of privacy. This technology, combined with a ban on face coverings at protests, would essentially amount to an obligation on behalf of individuals to submit to surveillance by the state, corporations and other groups that surveil protesters.
"Unless you’re a #MiningCompany spending hundreds of millions buying politicians’ favour or can wine and dine decision-makers, peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to hold governments and corporations to account. Protests for the eight-hour workday, #WomensRights, #FirstNationsRights and the #AntiWar movement have led to significant improvements in all of our lives.
Know something?"Many people attending protests wear face coverings to protect their privacy and anonymity. For temporary migrants, the consequences of identification can include visa cancellation and detention. #FarRight groups, abusers of gender-based violence and other political groups have all been documented as engaging in doxing, surveillance and retaliatory violence against people identified at peaceful protests.
"Even with exemptions, a ban would mean that people who wear facemasks for reasons of health, disability status, or religious or cultural reasons would be at risk of police targeting and made to justify their use of a face mask.
"Adding new repressive police powers against peaceful protesters only serves to increase the risk of escalating violence at already heightened public demonstrations. People will not stop taking to the streets on issues they care about, even if the state tries to stifle their voices. Donald #Trump’s deployment of the #NationalGuard in response to protests in LA shows us how deploying more state force at protests increases rather than decreases the risk of violence.
"A ban on protests outside or within a certain proximity to places of worship would mean police could arrest those engaging in peaceful protests for a genuine, non-discriminatory purpose — for example, protests by survivors of #ClergySexualAbuse or by congregants against the political activities of their own religious institutions.
"It would also have the unintended consequence of rendering large areas of the state no-go zones for peaceful protest, due to the high number of places of worship. Similar laws in #NSW are already being challenged for their #unconstitutionality.
"Taken together, this suite of laws, which would provide police with extraordinary powers against people peacefully raising their voices against #injustice, would have a chilling effect, deterring #MarginalisedGroups from attending protests and exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which the Victorian government has sought to protect.
"Ultimately, banning face coverings at peaceful protests and banning protests outside places of worship would not have done anything to prevent what occurred over the weekend. Premier Allan knows this. Yet she is stuck in the same reactive law-and-order merry-go-round that saw NSW Premier Chris Minns enact fear-based, repressive anti-protest measures in response to what we now know was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy.
"Encouraging people to express their political views peacefully is the antidote to non-peaceful forms of protest and is something that all governments should be encouraging and facilitating. At times like this, we should be able to trust our politicians not to fuel division and panic through misguided and knee-jerk responses, but to take measures to address the root causes of racism and hatred."
#AntiProtestLaws #ProtestLawsAustralia #ACAB #SilencingFreeSpeech #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #Authoritarianism
-
#VictoriaAustralia’s draconian new #AntiProtest laws will have a chilling effect on #FreeSpeech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
by Sarah Schwartz, Jul 9, 2025
"In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more #police powers.
"In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to #ClampDown on unrelated democratic rights.
"Taking to the streets in peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to come together and express our political views when our representatives aren’t listening to us. But this right is not without limits. Every person has a right to worship in safety. The attack on East Melbourne Synagogue was not a protest; it was an act of antisemitism. The suspect has been apprehended and charged with a multitude of criminal offences.
"Two other incidents over the weekend, the targeting of a business with ties to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed #Israeli organisation linked to the massacres of unarmed #Palestinians seeking aid — and a weapons company with links to the Israeli military, are also being referred to as justifying new laws. It is important not to conflate these actions against Israel with an attack against a Jewish place of worship. International human rights law, as well as our current laws, already place limits on protests that involve intimidation and violence.
"So what is actually being proposed in response? The Allan government is suggesting the creation of a new criminal offence for wearing a #FaceCovering at peaceful protests, banning 'dangerous attachment devices' (e.g. a #chain, a #BikeLock) — which have long been used in non-violent civil disobedience — and #criminalising peaceful protests around places of religious worship.
"The ban on face coverings would be a first in #Australia. It would mirror measures used in #authoritarian states that force people to submit themselves to various forms of #StateSurveillance.
"#VictoriaPolice has been using facial recognition software for years without any regulatory or legislative framework to prevent breaches of privacy. This technology, combined with a ban on face coverings at protests, would essentially amount to an obligation on behalf of individuals to submit to surveillance by the state, corporations and other groups that surveil protesters.
"Unless you’re a #MiningCompany spending hundreds of millions buying politicians’ favour or can wine and dine decision-makers, peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to hold governments and corporations to account. Protests for the eight-hour workday, #WomensRights, #FirstNationsRights and the #AntiWar movement have led to significant improvements in all of our lives.
Know something?"Many people attending protests wear face coverings to protect their privacy and anonymity. For temporary migrants, the consequences of identification can include visa cancellation and detention. #FarRight groups, abusers of gender-based violence and other political groups have all been documented as engaging in doxing, surveillance and retaliatory violence against people identified at peaceful protests.
"Even with exemptions, a ban would mean that people who wear facemasks for reasons of health, disability status, or religious or cultural reasons would be at risk of police targeting and made to justify their use of a face mask.
"Adding new repressive police powers against peaceful protesters only serves to increase the risk of escalating violence at already heightened public demonstrations. People will not stop taking to the streets on issues they care about, even if the state tries to stifle their voices. Donald #Trump’s deployment of the #NationalGuard in response to protests in LA shows us how deploying more state force at protests increases rather than decreases the risk of violence.
"A ban on protests outside or within a certain proximity to places of worship would mean police could arrest those engaging in peaceful protests for a genuine, non-discriminatory purpose — for example, protests by survivors of #ClergySexualAbuse or by congregants against the political activities of their own religious institutions.
"It would also have the unintended consequence of rendering large areas of the state no-go zones for peaceful protest, due to the high number of places of worship. Similar laws in #NSW are already being challenged for their #unconstitutionality.
"Taken together, this suite of laws, which would provide police with extraordinary powers against people peacefully raising their voices against #injustice, would have a chilling effect, deterring #MarginalisedGroups from attending protests and exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which the Victorian government has sought to protect.
"Ultimately, banning face coverings at peaceful protests and banning protests outside places of worship would not have done anything to prevent what occurred over the weekend. Premier Allan knows this. Yet she is stuck in the same reactive law-and-order merry-go-round that saw NSW Premier Chris Minns enact fear-based, repressive anti-protest measures in response to what we now know was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy.
"Encouraging people to express their political views peacefully is the antidote to non-peaceful forms of protest and is something that all governments should be encouraging and facilitating. At times like this, we should be able to trust our politicians not to fuel division and panic through misguided and knee-jerk responses, but to take measures to address the root causes of racism and hatred."
#AntiProtestLaws #ProtestLawsAustralia #ACAB #SilencingFreeSpeech #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #Authoritarianism
-
#VictoriaAustralia’s draconian new #AntiProtest laws will have a chilling effect on #FreeSpeech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
by Sarah Schwartz, Jul 9, 2025
"In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more #police powers.
"In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to #ClampDown on unrelated democratic rights.
"Taking to the streets in peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to come together and express our political views when our representatives aren’t listening to us. But this right is not without limits. Every person has a right to worship in safety. The attack on East Melbourne Synagogue was not a protest; it was an act of antisemitism. The suspect has been apprehended and charged with a multitude of criminal offences.
"Two other incidents over the weekend, the targeting of a business with ties to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed #Israeli organisation linked to the massacres of unarmed #Palestinians seeking aid — and a weapons company with links to the Israeli military, are also being referred to as justifying new laws. It is important not to conflate these actions against Israel with an attack against a Jewish place of worship. International human rights law, as well as our current laws, already place limits on protests that involve intimidation and violence.
"So what is actually being proposed in response? The Allan government is suggesting the creation of a new criminal offence for wearing a #FaceCovering at peaceful protests, banning 'dangerous attachment devices' (e.g. a #chain, a #BikeLock) — which have long been used in non-violent civil disobedience — and #criminalising peaceful protests around places of religious worship.
"The ban on face coverings would be a first in #Australia. It would mirror measures used in #authoritarian states that force people to submit themselves to various forms of #StateSurveillance.
"#VictoriaPolice has been using facial recognition software for years without any regulatory or legislative framework to prevent breaches of privacy. This technology, combined with a ban on face coverings at protests, would essentially amount to an obligation on behalf of individuals to submit to surveillance by the state, corporations and other groups that surveil protesters.
"Unless you’re a #MiningCompany spending hundreds of millions buying politicians’ favour or can wine and dine decision-makers, peaceful protest is one of the main ways for people to hold governments and corporations to account. Protests for the eight-hour workday, #WomensRights, #FirstNationsRights and the #AntiWar movement have led to significant improvements in all of our lives.
Know something?"Many people attending protests wear face coverings to protect their privacy and anonymity. For temporary migrants, the consequences of identification can include visa cancellation and detention. #FarRight groups, abusers of gender-based violence and other political groups have all been documented as engaging in doxing, surveillance and retaliatory violence against people identified at peaceful protests.
"Even with exemptions, a ban would mean that people who wear facemasks for reasons of health, disability status, or religious or cultural reasons would be at risk of police targeting and made to justify their use of a face mask.
"Adding new repressive police powers against peaceful protesters only serves to increase the risk of escalating violence at already heightened public demonstrations. People will not stop taking to the streets on issues they care about, even if the state tries to stifle their voices. Donald #Trump’s deployment of the #NationalGuard in response to protests in LA shows us how deploying more state force at protests increases rather than decreases the risk of violence.
"A ban on protests outside or within a certain proximity to places of worship would mean police could arrest those engaging in peaceful protests for a genuine, non-discriminatory purpose — for example, protests by survivors of #ClergySexualAbuse or by congregants against the political activities of their own religious institutions.
"It would also have the unintended consequence of rendering large areas of the state no-go zones for peaceful protest, due to the high number of places of worship. Similar laws in #NSW are already being challenged for their #unconstitutionality.
"Taken together, this suite of laws, which would provide police with extraordinary powers against people peacefully raising their voices against #injustice, would have a chilling effect, deterring #MarginalisedGroups from attending protests and exercising their rights to freedom of expression, which the Victorian government has sought to protect.
"Ultimately, banning face coverings at peaceful protests and banning protests outside places of worship would not have done anything to prevent what occurred over the weekend. Premier Allan knows this. Yet she is stuck in the same reactive law-and-order merry-go-round that saw NSW Premier Chris Minns enact fear-based, repressive anti-protest measures in response to what we now know was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy.
"Encouraging people to express their political views peacefully is the antidote to non-peaceful forms of protest and is something that all governments should be encouraging and facilitating. At times like this, we should be able to trust our politicians not to fuel division and panic through misguided and knee-jerk responses, but to take measures to address the root causes of racism and hatred."
#AntiProtestLaws #ProtestLawsAustralia #ACAB #SilencingFreeSpeech #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #Authoritarianism
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Retired judge Wally Oppal, the adjudicator of a public hearing looking into the 2019 Christmas Day death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch, found that the officer who shot and killed her using less-lethal #ARWEN rounds was not justified in his use of force.
The spring 2024 hearing, requested by Rauch's family, and done under an adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s #police #watchdog, looked at the evidence and circumstances that led to #VictoriaPolice Department officer Ron Kirkwood fatally shooting Rauch in the back of the head with three rounds of what is supposed to be non-lethal ammunition.
#YYJ #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #CopCrimes #PoliceViolence #VicPD #ACAB #BritishColumbia
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Retired judge Wally Oppal, the adjudicator of a public hearing looking into the 2019 Christmas Day death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch, found that the officer who shot and killed her using less-lethal #ARWEN rounds was not justified in his use of force.
The spring 2024 hearing, requested by Rauch's family, and done under an adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s #police #watchdog, looked at the evidence and circumstances that led to #VictoriaPolice Department officer Ron Kirkwood fatally shooting Rauch in the back of the head with three rounds of what is supposed to be non-lethal ammunition.
#YYJ #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #CopCrimes #PoliceViolence #VicPD #ACAB #BritishColumbia
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Retired judge Wally Oppal, the adjudicator of a public hearing looking into the 2019 Christmas Day death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch, found that the officer who shot and killed her using less-lethal #ARWEN rounds was not justified in his use of force.
The spring 2024 hearing, requested by Rauch's family, and done under an adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s #police #watchdog, looked at the evidence and circumstances that led to #VictoriaPolice Department officer Ron Kirkwood fatally shooting Rauch in the back of the head with three rounds of what is supposed to be non-lethal ammunition.
#YYJ #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #CopCrimes #PoliceViolence #VicPD #ACAB #BritishColumbia
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Retired judge Wally Oppal, the adjudicator of a public hearing looking into the 2019 Christmas Day death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch, found that the officer who shot and killed her using less-lethal #ARWEN rounds was not justified in his use of force.
The spring 2024 hearing, requested by Rauch's family, and done under an adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s #police #watchdog, looked at the evidence and circumstances that led to #VictoriaPolice Department officer Ron Kirkwood fatally shooting Rauch in the back of the head with three rounds of what is supposed to be non-lethal ammunition.
#YYJ #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #CopCrimes #PoliceViolence #VicPD #ACAB #BritishColumbia
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Retired judge Wally Oppal, the adjudicator of a public hearing looking into the 2019 Christmas Day death of 43-year-old Lisa Rauch, found that the officer who shot and killed her using less-lethal #ARWEN rounds was not justified in his use of force.
The spring 2024 hearing, requested by Rauch's family, and done under an adjudicator appointed by B.C.'s #police #watchdog, looked at the evidence and circumstances that led to #VictoriaPolice Department officer Ron Kirkwood fatally shooting Rauch in the back of the head with three rounds of what is supposed to be non-lethal ammunition.
#YYJ #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #CopCrimes #PoliceViolence #VicPD #ACAB #BritishColumbia
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Australian police’s ‘new powers’ lead to $142.6K crypto seizure - Victoria Police’s first crypto seizure underscores a new legal framework... - https://cointelegraph.com/news/victoria-police-first-crypto-seizure-new-law #digitalassetslaw #confiscationact #victoriapolice #cryptocurrency #cryptoseizure #blockchain #australia #asic
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Global News BC: ‘Staggering’ 109 people arrested, $29K in merchandise seized in Victoria theft crackdown https://globalnews.ca/news/10156369/arrests-merchandise-seized-victoria-police-crackdown/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriapolice #Victoriacrime #retailtheft #Shoplifting #Crime
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Global News BC: ‘Staggering’ 109 people arrested, $29K in merchandise seized in Victoria theft crackdown https://globalnews.ca/news/10156369/arrests-merchandise-seized-victoria-police-crackdown/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriapolice #Victoriacrime #retailtheft #Shoplifting #Crime
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Global News BC: ‘Staggering’ 109 people arrested, $29K in merchandise seized in Victoria theft crackdown https://globalnews.ca/news/10156369/arrests-merchandise-seized-victoria-police-crackdown/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriapolice #Victoriacrime #retailtheft #Shoplifting #Crime
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Global News BC: ‘Staggering’ 109 people arrested, $29K in merchandise seized in Victoria theft crackdown https://globalnews.ca/news/10156369/arrests-merchandise-seized-victoria-police-crackdown/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriapolice #Victoriacrime #retailtheft #Shoplifting #Crime
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Global News BC: Man dressed as Santa waving replica gun lands on Victoria police naughty list https://globalnews.ca/news/10131295/man-dressed-as-santa-replica-gun-victoria/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ReplicaFirearm #Victoriapolice #ReplicaGun #Crime #Santa
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Global News BC: Man dressed as Santa waving replica gun lands on Victoria police naughty list https://globalnews.ca/news/10131295/man-dressed-as-santa-replica-gun-victoria/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ReplicaFirearm #Victoriapolice #ReplicaGun #Crime #Santa
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Global News BC: Man dressed as Santa waving replica gun lands on Victoria police naughty list https://globalnews.ca/news/10131295/man-dressed-as-santa-replica-gun-victoria/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ReplicaFirearm #Victoriapolice #ReplicaGun #Crime #Santa
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Global News BC: Man dressed as Santa waving replica gun lands on Victoria police naughty list https://globalnews.ca/news/10131295/man-dressed-as-santa-replica-gun-victoria/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ReplicaFirearm #Victoriapolice #ReplicaGun #Crime #Santa
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Global News BC: Man dressed as Santa waving replica gun lands on Victoria police naughty list https://globalnews.ca/news/10131295/man-dressed-as-santa-replica-gun-victoria/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #ReplicaFirearm #Victoriapolice #ReplicaGun #Crime #Santa
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Global News BC: Victoria police kill ‘full-grown’ cougar spotted in city park https://globalnews.ca/news/10107471/victoria-cougar-killed/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriapolice #Environment #Wildlife #Cougar
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Member of #public bashed and arrested by #police for helping a #protester to her feet.
:acab: :acab2: :acabkitty: :clowncop: :nocops: :pig_cop: :txt_eff_the_cops:
#australia #vicpol #vicgov #melbourne #victoria #victoriapolice #AllCopsAreBastards #acab #ausgov #auspol #tasgov #taspol #politas #classwar #eattherich
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Global News BC: B.C. police complaint commissioner calls public hearing into woman’s 2019 death https://globalnews.ca/news/10008193/public-hearing-bc-womans-death/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #BCPolicewatchdog #Policeuseofforce #Victoriapolice #Crime
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Global News BC: Senior assault caught on video, Victoria police looking for suspects https://globalnews.ca/news/10004092/victoria-senior-assault-video/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #Victoriaseniorassualt #BCseniorassaulted #VictoriaAssault #Victoriapolice #Crime
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Global News BC: Foul play suspected in Victoria, B.C. suspicious death https://globalnews.ca/news/9961642/victoria-suspicious-death-foul-play-pandora/ #globalnews #britishcolumbia #news #VancouverIslandIntegratedMajorCrimeUnit #victoriasuspicousdeath #SuspiciousDeath #Victoriapolice #Victoriacrime #fouldplay #Fatality #Victoria #Crime