Victoria’s new anti-protest laws to be watered down amid pushback from human rights groups and unions

<p><strong>Exclusive: </strong>Plans for ban on ‘face coverings’ at protests, with fines of up to $2,000, have been scaled back, sources say</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/13/australia-news-live-penny-wong-anthony-albanese-gaza-palestine-humanitarian-crisis-reserve-bank-productivity-tax-jim-chalmers-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Proposed anti-protest laws in Victoria – including an outright ban on face masks at protests – will be significantly scaled back after pushback by human rights groups and unions.</p><p>Several sources involved in the consultation process, some of whom have requested anonymity as the bill’s wording is not finalised, have said that roundtable discussions in April prompted concessions from the Allan government.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/13/victorias-new-anti-protest-laws-to-be-watered-down-amid-pushback-from-human-rights-groups-and-unions-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>