- Parliament of Western Australia has passed the Land Forces (Special Powers) Bill 2026, giving WA Police additional powers to keep the community safe
- Laws will be in effect from 1-10 October 2026
- New temporary powers will help WA Police manage the event, protect the community, and respond to any dangerous or disruptive behaviour
The Cook Labor Government has welcomed the passing of the Land Forces (Special Powers) Bill 2026 in the Parliament of Western Australia, ensuring WA Police have the powers they need to keep the community safe before, during and after the premier defence conference and trade show.
Land Forces will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6-8 October 2026, bringing up to 20,000 domestic and international delegates, and will require a co-ordinated security and traffic management response.
Land Forces 2026 will strengthen police infrastructure, operational capability, and is expected to deliver significant strategic, economic, and industrial benefits for Western Australia and Australia.
These powers will be in place from 1-10 October with a protected area around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre during the event period, including a short period before and after for setup and pack-down activities.
Within the protected area, WA Police will have additional powers to establish checkpoints, cordons, and roadblocks, stop people and vehicles from entering, direct people to leave and search people and vehicles, and issuing reasonable directions.
The Cook Labor Government recognises the right of people to peacefully gather and protest. However, that right must be balanced with the need to maintain public order and ensure the safety of attendees, workers, and the wider community.
$11.5 million has been allocated in the 2026-27 State Budget to support Land Forces 2026, helping ensure WA Police have the resources needed to keep the community safe.
As stated by Police Minister Reece Whitby:
“I want to thank all members of Parliament for working together and putting community safety first to get this important legislation passed.
“This legislation is about making sure WA Police have the powers they need to keep people safe and effectively manage Land Forces, while respecting the right to peacefully protest.
“We saw the scenes that occurred when Land Forces was held in Melbourne in 2024, and we do not want to see anything like that here in Perth, which is why it is crucial these laws have now passed.”
