Police ban handful of protesters from Land Forces event in Perth

A small number of individuals have been prohibited from protesting at a major defence conference in Perth, with Western Australian police utilizing their enhanced powers to manage the event.

The new legislation, passed last month, grants police temporary powers to oversee the Land Forces event, which is set to commence next Tuesday at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, expecting around 20,000 delegates.

At least six people have received letters from police advising them that they have been banned from protesting inside the security zone, although authorities have not disclosed the reasons behind these decisions.

Police Minister Reece Whitby described the security measures for Land Forces as the "biggest police operation" in the state due to a "heightened security environment".

"What we want to see is this event occur safely … we will not tolerate what occurred in Melbourne at the last Land Forces," he said.

WA Police Commander Darren Seivwright said the legislation was "judiciously applied" to determine who was excluded.

"It is case by case, we've set the threshold particularly high," Commander Seivwright said.

"Those that have been excluded have earned it through previous suboptimal behaviour, and if there's any similar behaviour during the event, they will join the excluded person's list."

When asked why people have been issued bans, he indicated some had behavioural problems including "criminal histories".

A letter seen by our publication warned the recipient that they could be arrested and jailed for three years, as well as fined $36,000 for entering the security area.

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill said police were "trying to stop protests" by targeting "peaceful activists who have no history of violence".

"We know some of these individuals who have received these letters, and they have no history of any violent protest," Ms McNeill said.

"This is an incredible waste of police resources at a time we're facing a domestic violence crisis in this state."

Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Rohan Simpson said police "owe it to protesters" to give reasons for the bans.

"If you are being told by police that you can't attend a particular event and therefore you can't exercise your right to protest and express your political opinion, then the onus is on police to explain why they think you're a threat," he said.

"The notices that people have received today, and I've seen quite a few of them, they're just generic template letters."

Mr Simpson said he had "serious concerns" about the laws and the way they are being applied.

"The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and anti-war activists play a really important role in exposing the use of weapons in human rights abuses around the world."