Police conduct
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): (663) My question is to the Attorney-General with regard to police oversight. When upholding the fundamental civil right to protest, police are required to not use force, except when it is strictly necessary and proportionate to do so. This has not happened at the protests currently taking place outside the Land Forces arms fair. Independent legal observers have today witnessed police deploy weapons in very dangerous circumstances, including throwing flash grenades and firing rubber bullets into large crowds and charging horses into crowds of people who do not have room to move away. Independent legal observers wearing vests clearly marking themselves as legal observers have themselves been assaulted and pepper sprayed by police. Minister, this is clearly excessive use of force. What will the government do to stop this use of violence and excessive force by the police?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): Ms Copsey, you have put allegations on the record, observations about an event that you do not seem to be at, but I understand that perhaps you have got a line of sight, given one of your colleagues has made reference to the fact that they are using today as an opportunity to make their own protest. I have been on the record and many people in this chamber also support the right to a peaceful protest. When Victoria Police are present at protests, they have got a responsibility and powers to keep people safe. I would confirm that this applies to not just people attending an event that other people are protesting against but that they have got a right to protect people that are there protesting – whether it is members of Parliament, whether it is members of the media or whether it is people that are there to voice an opposition to something. We do not have a problem with that. But anyone looking to cause issues – block traffic, threaten community safety, hurt animals – should be dealt with swiftly by Victoria Police. As you are aware, Victoria Police have been granted special powers for this event, and the community does not expect them to hesitate in using their powers to keep people safe.
In relation to any allegations of excessive force, there are appropriate mechanisms to make complaints about any such conduct. I reaffirm my thanks to Victoria Police for their role in attempting to ensure that at an event that generates at least $70 million for the Victorian economy and that has many international and interstate visitors attending as well as people standing there to voice their opposition to a range of matters people can go about their business safely, for whichever side or views that they hold.
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:08): Thank you, Attorney, for that answer, and as the first law officer of this state I am sure you will pay keen attention to the observations of independent legal observers who have been at today’s protests. Excessive use of force by Victoria Police is not new. In April this year an IBAC thematic review of 15 separate investigations into Victoria Police’s use of OC spray found that:
the decisions and actions of police escalated incidents or increased the risk of safety of those involved
Attorney, will you support an inquiry by IBAC into police tactics and excessive use of force at the Land Forces protests in Melbourne this week?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:09): Ms Copsey, I am often drawn into this expectation that as the Attorney-General I have the right – but also there is the expectation from this chamber – to direct IBAC. I find it really dangerous and inappropriate. It is a misuse of my power, and it is something that I do not engage in.