Victoria to ban masked protests, Hamas, Hezbollah flags in response to extremism

The Australian state of Victoria is committed to banning Hamas and Hezbollah flags, masked protests, and restricting demonstrations as houses of worship in a bid to counter rising extremism and antisemitic incidents in the country, Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced on Tuesday.

The Victorian government said that while the peaceful protest was protected under the 2006 Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act, the right had to be balanced with the right to safety.

According to it, demonstrations since October 7 had seen “extreme, dangerous, and radical conduct” where antisemitism thrived.

“Antisemitism thrives in extreme and radical environments, and we are giving police more power to control protest, making it harder for agents of violence and hate to hide,” Allan said in a press release.

Victoria lists Hamas, Hezbollah, and several other groups as terrorist organizations and it is prohibited to display their symbols for purposes such as incitement, but Allan’s Labor government said that it would completely ban the symbols.

The police will potentially have the power to “stop, search, and seize” in response to any display of an icon or flag of a terrorist organization.

A mask ban was proposed, as police told the government that identity concealment was used to hamper crowd-control operations and identify criminal offenders. The press release noted that exemptions would be made to wearing a mask in the case of health, religious, or cultural reasons.

“Masks aren’t a free pass to break the law. There should be no place to hide in this state if you’re a racist stirring up hate on the streets,” the government said.

Police will also gain new powers to confiscate items like glue, rope, chains, and locks that activists have reportedly been using to attach themselves to objects to prevent movement and access.

“They put people in harm’s way, make it harder for the police to do their jobs – and make heroes out of morons,” it added.

Seeking to limit demonstrations at religious sites 

Noting the prevalence of protests outside synagogues, such as the December Great Synagogue protest in Sydney and last November’s Central Shule Melbourne rally in Caulfield South, which resulted in an evacuation, the Allan government said that it would seek to limit demonstrations at religious sites.

The proposal did not offer definitive answers on the extent of the restrictions but said it could include the establishment of “safe access areas” or the prohibition of disturbances at religious gatherings.

“Some of these reforms are complex because they involve a balance of fundamental rights. But we are committed to consulting with the community and delivering them as soon as possible,” Police Minister Anthony Carbines said in a press release.

Victoria’s government also sought to create a new liaison group to open regular communication channels with the Jewish community. The Local Escalation and Help Group could include government department representatives, Jewish community organizations, and security groups.

“This isn’t about the Middle East,” said Allan. ‘This is about Victoria. This is about our values and the right of anyone in this state to live, work, and pray freely without fear of intimidation, fear, and violence.”

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZAF) and Zionism Victoria welcomed the package of reforms, with ZFA president Jeremy Leibler saying that “these reforms will not only help to make Victoria safer and more welcoming for Jewish people but for all Victorians.”

Zionism Victoria leader Elyse Schachna said on social media, “People who want to protest about an issue should do so without their faces covered by a mask; this promotes transparency and accountability and ensures that individuals stand by their actions and words.”

The reforms came after a string of antisemitic incidents in Australia, including an arson attack in December against the Adass Israel Synagogue in the suburb of Ripponlea, in Melbourne.