[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [BUSINESS]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 1 days · First seen · Last updated

Land Forces expo security and protest disputes

Overview

The Land Forces defence expo has opened in Perth, Western Australia, under heavy security measures. The Cook government allocated $11.5 million for security following previous protests at a 2024 event in Victoria. New legislative powers have enabled Western Australia Police to ban activists from entering a designated security zone around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In response to legal challenges from the Human Rights Law Centre and SCALES Community Legal Centre, police temporarily overturned an entry ban for Greens staffer and activist Matilda Lane-Rose. While Lane-Rose was permitted access to the security zone during specific daytime hours, the ban remains in effect after 8 pm. Lane-Rose has indicated intentions to challenge the original decision in the Supreme Court of WA.

Security at the event includes heavily armed public order police, with attendees required to present identification and passes. While small groups of protesters have gathered, the WA Anti-War Collective has scheduled further protest activities. The expo features nearly 1,000 exhibitors, with a technological focus on autonomy and artificial intelligence.

Entities

Land Forces Expo · Reece Whitby · Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre · WA Police · BAE Systems

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Land Forces expo opens in Perth with heavy security

    The Land Forces defence expo has opened in Perth with heavy police presence and $11.5 million in security funding. The event features 964 exhibitors focusing on AI and autonomous defence technology.

  2. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    WA Police overturn entry ban for activist at Land Forces Expo

    WA Police overturned an entry ban for Greens staffer Matilda Lane-Rose at the Land Forces Expo in Perth following legal threats, though she remains on the exclusion list after Tuesday evening.

Sources

brisbanetimes.com.au · greenleft.org.au · smh.com.au · theage.com.au