Victoria to ban face masks at protests as Moomba 'idiot' brawlers put on notice
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Version 0 of 1. Victoria will introduce laws banning face coverings at protests as authorities warn “idiots” not to try to disrupt the end of the Moomba festival. Police made 53 arrests at the festival on Saturday night and state attorney general, Martin Pakula, said they would be ready again if there was trouble as the event wrapped up. “There seems to be a small band of idiots who want to chance their arm,” Pakula said on Monday. “All I can say to those people is Victoria police is ready for you, they demonstrated that on Saturday night, and no doubt they’ll demonstrate it again if anyone is stupid enough to try it on.” Moomba descended into violent riots last year as groups of youths battled each other in Melbourne’s streets. That incident – and other political protests that turned violent – has prompted the state to propose laws banning face coverings at protests. Pakula said the laws were meant to be ready earlier, but had been complex to draft. They will give police the power to arrest people with covered faces if they believe the coverings are for avoiding detection or to prevent the use of capsicum spray. Pakula said the laws would be introduced into parliament next week. |