Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan urged to introduce NSW-style laws to police hate rallies

Premier Jacinta Allan calls on protesters to abandon plans for October 7 protest – but won’t toughen police powers in Victoria.

Protesters gather at the State Library in Melbourne on September 29, 2024. Picture: Valeriu Campan/NewsWire /

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is facing calls to introduce NSW-style protest laws to make it easier for police to move along protesters and arrest them.

Jewish community leader Dvir Abramovich believes if Victoria had a “permit system” allowing police to apply to courts to have a protest declared unlawful it would discourage events such as the proposed pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah rally to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

While The Australian has confirmed the Premier doesn’t support adopting the NSW measures, she has called on organisers to abandon plans for a mass rally in Melbourne on Monday.

“People should not be protesting on October 7,” she said in a statement to The Australian.

“This is a very traumatic anniversary for all those involved in the conflict. Whilst everyone has a right to protest peacefully, groups should reconsider the need to protest next week in respect to the grief it will cause Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Palestinian and Lebanese communities.”

Dr Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission who successfully spearheaded the national campaign to ban the Nazi salute, swastika and trafficking in Third Reich memorabilia, also called for existing anti-vilification laws to be applied to the Hamas and Hezbollah terror flags.

“These symbols, such as the Hezbollah and Hamas flags, are not just pieces of cloth, they represent a real and present danger that can lead to lethal attacks,” he told The Australian.

“By making their display illegal, we take a critical step toward preventing their spread and protecting communities from being targeted by those who seek to divide us through fear. This is about balance; protecting free speech while ensuring our communities remain safe from violence and terror.

“This new permit law would give our police officers the legal support they need to go to court and, if necessary, declare a protest unlawful if it has the potential to turn violent or poses a danger to public safety.

“Police need a clear legal pathway to address these situations quickly and responsibly. Moving people on is not about silencing voices – it’s about maintaining safety.

“This power would be used sparingly, and only when the actions of a few endanger the wellbeing of the many.

“Law enforcement must have the tools to ensure protests do not spiral into chaos. Terrorist symbols, including certain flags and insignias, are being used by groups to promote violence and intimidation.”

Unlike NSW, Victoria Police has confirmed that it does not have the power to deny a protest from occurring, “so long as it is lawful”. “There is no permit system for protests in Victoria,” a police spokesperson said.

The Allan government believes Victoria’s laws give police the authority to tell a person to move on, including if the protester is putting the safety of another person in danger or is likely to do so, or they are acting in a way likely to injure someone or damage property.

Dr Abramovich said a permit system such as the one that operates in NSW was not about limiting freedom of expression.

“Australians have the right to protest and express their opinions freely,” he said.

“That is a cornerstone of our democracy. But when those protests are hijacked by individuals and groups seeking to incite violence, threaten and promote hate – as we have witnessed over the last year – law enforcement needs the ability to intervene swiftly.