G20 Brisbane 2014: What you can and can’t do in Brisbane this week
EGGS, tins, kites and snakes. As Brisbane goes into lockdown ahead of the G20 there is a lot you can’t do in the city this week - but also one surprising way to cash in.
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EGGS, tin cans, model planes, surfboards and your pet lizard could get you in trouble in downtown Brisbane this weekend, as security goes into overdrive for the G20.
The city is already starting to crawl with media, delegates and secret service ahead of the largest and most powerful gathering of leaders Australia has ever seen.
During the event more than 6000 police will patrol the area in a $100 million security operation including 1500 brought in from other parts of Australia and New Zealand and given special powers to search, arrest and detain people for as long as necessary.
Large parts of the city and airport have been designated “security areas” for the event with restricted access around the Brisbane Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre, major hotels and the Southbank Cultural Precinct.
Nine hundred soldiers will be deployed with another 1000 on standby, while large parts of the city will be locked down with military style checkpoints, under-car cameras, mobile X-rays and explosive detection dogs.
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll said hundreds of cameras will be watching the city around the clock including the airport, major roads and hovering in helicopters above.
“It’s unprecedented as to what footage we will have available to us,” she said.
“So obviously it puts (us) in good stead to ensure that, for instance, the motorcades are very, very safe.”
During the event the G20 (Safety and Security) Act 2013 will cover the key parts of Brisbane, which has a special public holiday on Friday for those who work in the local government area.
Under the law police have been granted extra search powers to conduct basic, frisk or specific searches and arrest people without warrant for any amount of time deemed “reasonably necessary” to establish their identity or charge them.
It also means certain items are banned from being taken near the CBD while the world’s leaders are in town.
The act says while it’s OK to use knives to consume food on a South Bank picnic or use explosive tools at your construction job, it’s not OK to bring weapons like firearms, knifes, slingshots, crossbows, spear guns, whips and communication jamming devices into security zones.
You also can’t bring fireworks, glass bottles or jars, tin cans, eggs, stones, ball bearings, nails and banners more than 100cm high by 200cm wide.
Don’t even think about bringing in “urine or animal manure”, offensive weapons, baseball bats or your pet snake — especially if it’s a brown one.
Communication devices “other than a mobile phone” that can be used to organise activity or disrupt the event like a two-way radio or hailer are banned. As are horns, smoke bombs, flour bombs, laser pointers or anything to construct a stage.
Forget your balaclava or zinc — anything deemed camouflage cream to conceal your identity will get you in trouble. Don’t even think about getting a better view from the river as surf skis, kayaks, boats, canoes even the old flotation noodle will be banned. You can also forget about kites, drones and model aeroplanes.
The good news is that those who live in the areas designated ‘restricted’ who don’t have approval to live there can get the state to pay the cost of accommodation for them and their family while the event is on.
While the security measures might sound extreme, it’s nothing compared to the efforts President Obama’s team go to prevent the President being spied on.
His security team have gutted an entire floor of the Marriott Hotel where the President is staying, removing mirrors, bedding and furniture in the rooms to prevent listening devices being placed where vital staff are working in the next few days.
Macquarie University’s adjunct professor at the Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Clive Williams said a huge range of groups from issue-based anarchist movements like Black Bloc and Occupy will likely attend the event, right down to those interested in single issues who want to take advantage of the global media attention.
“It’s far more likely that there will be violent demonstrations rather than terrorism. In fact I think an act of terrorism is quite unlikely,” he said.
For those like Anonymous and Occupy, Prof Williams said their anti-capitalist, anti-government agenda means the G20 is the perfect forum to make their mark.
“They’re difficult to deal with as you never know how many are going to turn up on the day.”
“They’re capable of hacking and causing problems. Anonymous is another group with probably more of a cyber focus,” he said.
In addition, there’s the risk of “fixated individuals” who are obsessed with a single issue or leader that can provide a major headache for police.
“It’s a rich mix really of problems for security people to deal with. You might get people working for media who are pushing the margins a little bit,” he said.
Queensland Police are urging locals to go about their day as usual while allowing extra time for travel as there will be temporary road closures and changes to public transport.
To see the full Safety and Security Act click here or read a list of FAQs on the G20 website.
What do you want to know about the G20? Email victoria.craw@news.com.au
Originally published as G20 Brisbane 2014: What you can and can’t do in Brisbane this week
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