Key facts
- Police banned at least 12 people from a security zone near the Land Forces weapons expo in Perth.
- The bans were enacted using special powers from the Land Forces (Special Powers) Bill 2026.
- Activists Matilda Lane-Rose and Will Shanahan plan legal action if the ban is not revised.
- Greens MP Sophie McNeill accused the government of targeting peaceful activists.
- Violating an exclusion order carries a maximum fine of $36,000 and three years in prison.
Activists and a Greens MP have threatened legal action against Western Australia police for banning at least 12 people from entering a security zone near the Land Forces weapons expo in Perth, which is set to begin on October 6.
Police utilized special powers granted by the WA government last month through the Land Forces (Special Powers) Bill 2026 to establish the exclusion zone. This legislation provides police with expanded stop-and-search capabilities and the authority to prohibit individuals from entering the area, which spans from the Elizabeth Quay bus port to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, for a period of 10 days.
Matilda Lane-Rose, an activist and staffer for Greens MP Sophie McNeill, stated that she and others have sought legal advice and intend to pursue a judicial review if the ban is not rescinded. Lane-Rose reported being informed of her inclusion on the exclusion list despite having no plans to attend the protest against the expo, which is organized by the WA Anti-War Collective.
Violators of the exclusion order face a maximum penalty of $36,000 and up to three years in prison. WA Police Minister Reece Whitby previously stated the legislation was intended to ensure police had the necessary powers for public safety and effective management of the event while respecting the right to peaceful protest.
The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition is Australia's largest weapons expo, held biennially. The previous event in Melbourne in 2024 saw protests where police faced accusations of excessive force.
Among those issued exclusion orders are Melbourne activists Violet Coco and Brad Homewood. The expo is expected to feature companies including an Australian subsidiary of Israel's Elbit Systems and the state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. These companies have been criticized by former UN commission of inquiry member Chris Sidoti for their alleged involvement in war crimes in Gaza.
Will Shanahan, who recently moved from Perth to Newcastle, stated he now plans to travel to Perth to defy the ban, expressing concern about "global militarisation and be[ing] turned into an all-out police state." McNeill accused the government of misusing the legislation, originally intended for those with a propensity for violence, to target peaceful activists.