Activists and a Greens MP have announced plans to pursue legal action against the Western Australia Police Force following the issuance of exclusion orders. At least 12 individuals have been prohibited from entering a designated security zone surrounding the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the Land Forces weapons expo is scheduled to begin on October 6.

The bans were enacted using special legislative powers granted to the police by the WA government last month. These powers allow authorities to restrict access to specific areas in the interest of security during the event. During a press conference held on Friday, two of the affected individuals—18-year-old Will Shanahan and 22-year-old Matilda Lane-Rose—appeared alongside Greens MP Sophie McNeill to state their intention to challenge the legality of these exclusion orders.

The activists and their political supporters argue that the bans infringe upon their rights to protest and move freely. While the police have utilized the newly granted powers to secure the perimeter of the convention center, the legal challenge aims to test the scope and application of these powers in the context of public demonstrations. As of now, the police have not publicly detailed the specific criteria used to select the 12 individuals for exclusion, nor have they responded to the specific legal arguments raised by the activists. The situation remains a point of tension between civil liberties advocates and state security measures ahead of the expo.