[no bill text published] NSW Ban on Face Coverings for People Participating in Public Assemblies

Summary Offences Amendment (Public Assemblies) Bill 2025

Opposition Bill

13 Feb 2025: This bill has lapsed and is no longer under discussion.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

face coverings police powers policing costs protest public assembly public safety

Introduced by: Alister Henskens MP (LIB)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

People at public assemblies cannot hide their identity or wear disguises; this does not apply to religious clothing
Police can order people to remove masks or face paint; they can also order people to leave the area or detain them
It is a criminal offence to ignore a police order to remove a disguise or leave a public assembly
The Police Commissioner and courts must consider public safety and economic impacts before deciding whether to allow a public assembly
The Police Commissioner or courts can charge organisers for policing costs if the assembly is a repeat event
The state can refuse to authorise a repeat public assembly until the organiser pays the policing costs

News articles and press releases

Summary Offences Amendment (Public Assemblies) Bill 2025

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS, Member for Wahroonga — 2025-02-13

The bill inserts new section 27A, which provides a mechanism for the Commissioner of Police to take into account relevant factors in allowing or rejecting public assemblies, including the cost to the State, the economic and social impact of the assemblies, the impact on small or large businesses, the frequency of similar assemblies as well as public safety. New section 27B provides that there are effectively three consecutive or non‑consecutive days of protest per year which will be allowed on a specific topic. The Government or court can then, if it wishes, charge part or all of the cost of policing the protest as a condition of approval.