VIC Ending the Crime of Begging for People in Public

Summary Offences Amendment (Begging) Bill 2025

Private Member's Bill

3 Dec 2025: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

begging child safety criminal justice financial hardship homelessness public order

Introduced by: Rachel Payne MLC (LCV)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Begging is no longer a crime in Victoria.
The law now only targets those who force or encourage children to beg.
General alms-gathering is officially off the books.
Section 49A has been narrowed down to focus strictly on child exploitation.