Western Australia unlikely to adopt worship-site protest bans amid rising antisemitism

Western Australia’s government is not expected to introduce buffer-zone bans on protests outside places of worship, despite calls from Jewish leaders amid heightened antisemitic incidents.

During deliberations of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, senior Jewish legal figures suggested adopting buffer zones similar to those around abortion clinics to stop protests outside places of worship. Attorney General Tony Buti responded that the government’s priority is to curb intimidation and give police powers to deny permits for rallies that incite religious hatred, but he stopped short of endorsing a specific ban on worship-site demonstrations.

The legislation currently moving through the state’s upper house would permit police to refuse permits for protests that foster animosity based on race, religion or gender, while leaving many other demonstrations untouched. Jewish leaders, including Steve Lieblich, voiced frustration over the lack of a targeted ban but noted the community’s strong relationship with police and stressed that education about Jewish history and beliefs is a more sustainable solution.

Experts warned that overly broad restrictions could be deemed unconstitutional, citing a recent New South Wales attempt that was struck down for infringing on political communication rights. Both legal scholars and community representatives agree that any legal measures must be narrowly tailored to avoid unintended consequences.