Special police powers are being enacted to avoid violent protests when a controversial defence conference returns to Australia.
The Land Forces weapons expo, which was targeted in explosive protests on the streets of Melbourne in 2024, will head to Perth in October.
Dozens of police were injured and more than 100 people were arrested in violent and chaotic protests outside the 2024 event.
The Western Australian government committed $10.5 million in its state budget to police the 2026 event but went a step further on Thursday, introducing legislation to grant authorities temporary powers to curb potential protests.
The laws would allow police to declare a protected area with checkpoints and roadblocks and grant them additional powers to search people and vehicles and direct people to leave.
