{"id":"public-order-in-streets-act-1984","name":"Public Order in Streets Act 1984","slug":"public-order-in-streets-act-1984","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106344,"registerId":"wa-public-order-in-streets-act-1984-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public Order in Streets Act 1984","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nPublic Order in Streets Act 1984\n\nWestern Australia\n\nPublic Order in Streets Act 1984\n\nContents\n\n1. Short title 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\n3. Interpretation 1\n\n4. Public meetings and processions 2\n\n5. Notice of assembly 3\n\n6. Authorised officers 5\n\n7. Permits 6\n\n8. Reviews 7\n\n9. Offences, and evidentiary provisions 8\n\n9A. Maintaining order in streets 9\n\n10. Protection from liability 10\n\n11. Regulations 10\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 11\n\nOther notes 11\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nPublic Order in Streets Act 1984\n\nAn Act to regulate the holding of public meetings and processions in streets, to provide for the maintenance of order in streets, and for related purposes.\n\n[Long title inserted: No. 70 of 2004 s. 75.]\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Public Order in Streets Act 1984*.\n\n[Section 1 amended: No. 70 of 2004 s. 76.]\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation.\n\n##### 3. Interpretation\n\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  authorised officer means a police officer authorised pursuant to a determination published under section 6;\n\n  Commissioner means the Commissioner of Police appointed pursuant to the *Police Act 1892*;\n\n  notice means a notice duly given in accordance with the requirements of section 5;\n\n  permit means a permit granted pursuant to a notice;\n\n  section means a section of this Act;\n\n  street means any road or highway open to, or which although not open to is nevertheless used by, the public, notwithstanding that it is on private property, and includes every thoroughfare, carriageway, footpath, reservation, median strip or traffic island associated with it and any steps, doorways or entrances abutting it;\n\n  subsection means a subsection of the section in which the term appears;\n\n  thoroughfare includes any bridge, tunnel, under‑pass, arcade, pavement, footpath, court, passage or other place to or through which access to or from a street is permitted to the public.\n\n[Section 3 amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 987.]\n\n##### 4. Public meetings and processions\n\n(1) Subject to —\n\n(a) any directions given by a member of the Police Force under section 9A; and\n\n(b) the provisions of subsection (2),\n\nwhere the holding of a public meeting or the conduct of a procession substantially conforms with the terms of the permit relating to it, a person participating in that public meeting or procession who observes such conditions and limitations as may be specified in the permit may position himself in, or proceed over, any street referred to in the permit and is not, by reason of any thing done or omitted to be done by him for the purpose only of his participating in that public meeting or procession, guilty of any offence against the provisions of any other Act or law regulating the movement of traffic or pedestrians, or relating to the obstruction of a street.\n\n(2) A permit granted pursuant to this Act shall be deemed to contain a condition requiring persons participating in the public meeting or procession to which it relates not to obstruct the free passage of any ambulance, fire brigade vehicle, or police vehicle, and where any person contravenes that condition the holding of the public meeting or the conduct of the procession shall be taken not to have conformed with the permit.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this Act an assembly shall not be taken to be a public meeting —\n\n(a) unless —\n\n(i) it comprises 3 or more persons;\n\n(ii) it is held for the purpose of communicating or expressing any view to, or of ascertaining the view of, the public or any section of the public (whether or not an organization or body of persons having requirements for membership), or of demonstrating, as to any matter; and\n\n(iii) members of the public in general are invited, induced or permitted to attend;\n\nor\n\n(b) if the assembly is convened solely for the purpose of divine worship.\n\n(4) For the purposes of this Act an assembly shall be taken to be a procession if —\n\n(a) it comprises 3 or more persons; and\n\n(b) those persons are assembled with the intent of moving, or move, from the place of assembly by means of any street as, or substantially as, a body of persons in orderly succession proceeding by a common route.\n\n[Section 4 amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 988 and 991; No. 70 of 2004 s. 77.]\n\n##### 5. Notice of assembly\n\n(1) A person who, or body which, proposes to —\n\n(a) hold a public meeting in a street;\n\n(b) conduct a procession (not being a funeral procession) in, or which is to proceed through, any street; or\n\n(c) both hold such a public meeting and conduct such a procession,\n\nmay give written notice to the Commissioner setting out the proposal and applying for the grant of a permit under this Act in respect of that proposed public meeting or procession, or, if the proposal is both to hold such a public meeting and conduct such a procession, in respect of both the proposed meeting and the procession.\n\n(2) A notice given for the purposes of subsection (1) setting out a proposal shall provide, with as much detail as is reasonably practicable, the following information —\n\n(a) the date of the proposed public meeting or procession;\n\n(b) the time at which the public meeting or procession will assemble and the time at which it will disband;\n\n(c) the place in which the public meeting or procession will be held, and the boundaries of the area to be occupied by the public meeting;\n\n(d) in the case of a procession, the route that it will follow, the extent to which it will occupy any street through which it will pass, the places (if any) at which it will halt and the time for which it will remain stationary in each such place;\n\n(e) the name and address of the person or body by whom or which the notice is given;\n\n(f) the name and address of the person or body by whom or which the public meeting or procession is being, or is to be, held or conducted;\n\n(g) the purpose of the public meeting or procession;\n\n(h) an estimate of the number of persons who will participate in the public meeting or procession; and\n\n(j) particulars of such other matters as may be prescribed,\n\nand the notice may be given at any police station.\n\n(3) A notice for the purposes of subsection (1) —\n\n(a) shall be given not less than 4 days before the date of the proposed public meeting or procession, or within such shorter period as may be agreed by the Commissioner or an authorised officer; and\n\n(b) may be required to be verified in a manner acceptable to the Commissioner or an authorised officer.\n\n(4) On receipt of a notice for the purposes of subsection (1) the Commissioner or an authorised officer shall act expeditiously to determine the application.\n\n##### 6. Authorised officers\n\n(1) The Commissioner may, by a determination short particulars of which are published for information in the *Government Gazette*, delegate the duties imposed and powers conferred upon him by this Act (other than this power of delegation) to any commissioned officer of the Police Force therein identified by office or other description, and any such authorised officer —\n\n(a) shall be deemed to be —\n\n(i) required to carry out the duties imposed on the Commissioner by; and\n\n(ii) authorised to grant permits for the purposes of,\n\nthis Act; and\n\n(b) shall, subject to the conditions or limitations set out in that determination, exercise those functions on behalf of the Commissioner,\n\nin relation to the part of the State or circumstances specified in that determination, but any such delegation may be revoked or varied by the Commissioner by a further determination of which particulars are so published and does not prevent the performance of any function by the Commissioner.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), it shall be sufficient if the particulars published in the *Government Gazette* set out the name, the office held by or other sufficient identification of the authorised officer and the part of the State or circumstances in which he is authorised to exercise the powers conferred by this Act, but it shall not be necessary to publish the conditions or limitations to which the determination is made subject.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this Act, the exercise of a power by an authorised officer under this section shall be deemed to be the exercise of the power by the Commissioner.\n\n(4) If, under this Act, the exercise of a power by the Commissioner is dependent on his opinion, belief or state of mind in relation to a matter and the power has been delegated under this section, the power may be exercised by an authorised officer to whom the power is delegated on the opinion, belief or state of mind of the authorised officer in relation to the matter.\n\n##### 7. Permits\n\n(1) The Commissioner or the authorised officer shall have regard to the information furnished in any notice and any other information available to him in relation to the proposed public meeting or procession and may —\n\n(a) by a document furnished to the person or body giving that notice —\n\n(i) grant a permit for the public meeting or procession; or\n\n(ii) grant a permit for the public meeting or procession subject to the conditions or limitations specified in that permit;\n\nor\n\n(b) refuse to grant a permit for the public meeting or procession.\n\n(2) The Commissioner or an authorised officer shall not refuse to grant a permit for a public meeting or procession in respect of which notice has been given unless he has reasonable ground for apprehending that the proposed public meeting or procession may —\n\n(a) occasion serious public disorder, or damage to public or private property;\n\n(b) create a public nuisance;\n\n(c) give rise in any street to an obstruction that is too great or too prolonged in the circumstances; or\n\n(d) place the safety of any person in jeopardy.\n\n##### 8. Reviews\n\n(1) Where a notice applying for the grant of a permit is given not less than 4 days before the date of the proposed meeting or procession and the person or body giving the notice —\n\n(a) is refused a permit for the meeting or procession by the Commissioner or an authorised officer;\n\n(b) is aggrieved by any condition or limitation specified in a permit granted in relation to the proposed meeting or procession; or\n\n(c) believes that the application has been dealt with unreasonably, as described in subsection (2),\n\nthat person or body may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the refusal of the permit, any condition or limitation specified in the permit, or how the application has been dealt with.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an application is dealt with unreasonably if —\n\n(a) the application for the permit has not been granted and there is reason to apprehend that it may not be dealt with sufficiently expeditiously; or\n\n(b) otherwise, there is good cause why it should be reviewed.\n\n[Section 8 amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 989.]\n\n##### 9. Offences, and evidentiary provisions\n\n(1) Where a person at, or in relation to, a public meeting held or a procession conducted pursuant to a permit —\n\n(a) acts in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting or procession assembled;\n\n(b) obstructs the free passage of any ambulance, fire brigade vehicle or police vehicle or, otherwise than in the manner or to the extent authorised by the permit relating to that meeting or procession, impedes or disrupts the use by members of the public in general of any street; or\n\n(c) incites other persons so to do,\n\nhe commits an offence.\n\nPenalty: $200.\n\n(2) Where, in any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), it is alleged in the charge that —\n\n(a) a permit had been granted under this Act to a person or body named therein; or\n\n(b) a public meeting was held or a procession was conducted pursuant to a permit,\n\nit shall not be necessary for the prosecutor to prove the facts so alleged in the absence of evidence to the contrary.\n\n(3) Where, in any proceedings for an offence against any other Act or law regulating the movement of traffic or pedestrians or relating to the obstruction of a street, the accused satisfies the court that a public meeting was held or a procession was conducted pursuant to a permit purporting to relate to it, it shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that —\n\n(a) no irregularity occurred in, or in relation to, the grant of the permit; and\n\n(b) the holding of the meeting or the conduct of the procession substantially conformed with the terms of the permit relating to it.\n\n[Section 9 amended: No. 55 of 2004 s. 990 and 991; No. 84 of 2004 s. 80 and 82.]\n\n##### 9A. Maintaining order in streets\n\n(1) For the purposes of maintaining order in streets the Commissioner of Police may give instructions to any or all members of the Police Force as to —\n\n(a) regulating traffic, whether pedestrian, vehicular, or of any other kind, in streets;\n\n(b) preventing or removing obstructions to any such traffic in streets;\n\n(c) maintaining order in streets.\n\n(2) Such an instruction is not to be given for the purpose of frustrating —\n\n(a) the holding of a meeting, or the conduct of a procession, authorised under a permit granted under this Act; or\n\n(b) the holding or conduct of an event on a road closed under an order made under Part VA of the *Road Traffic Act 1974*; or\n\n(c) the holding or conduct of a major event (as defined in the *Major Events Act 2023* section 4) on a road closed under the *Major Events Act 2023* section 26(1).\n\n(3) A member of the Police Force acting under such an instruction may give reasonable directions to any person for the purpose of giving effect to the instruction.\n\n(4) A person who, knowing of the existence of a direction given under subsection (3), does not comply with it commits an offence.\n\nPenalty: $2 000.\n\n[Section 9A inserted: No. 70 of 2004 s. 78; amended: No. 12 of 2023 s. 112(2).]\n\n##### 10. Protection from liability\n\nNo action or claim for damages shall lie against any person for or on account of anything done, or ordered or authorised to be done, by him which purports to be done for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, unless it is proved that the act was done, or ordered or authorised to be done, maliciously and without reasonable and probable cause.\n\n##### 11. Regulations\n\nThe Governor may make regulations as to any matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.\n\n[**12.** Deleted: No. 70 of 2004 s. 79.]\n\n[Schedule omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]\n\n![]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Public Order in Streets Act 1984* and includes amendments made by other written laws 3. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Public Meetings and Processions Act 1984* 1 | 23 of 1984 | 31 May 1984 | 1 Dec 1984 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Nov 1984 p. 3945) |\n| **Reprint of the *Public Meetings and Processions Act 1984* as at 16 Aug 2002** | | | |\n| *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 2 Div. 109 Subdiv. 1 2 | 55 of 2004 | 24 Nov 2004 | 1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) |\n| *Criminal Law Amendment (Simple Offences) Act 2004* Pt. 4 | 70 of 2004 | 8 Dec 2004 | 31 May 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 14 Jan 2005 p. 163) |\n| *Criminal Procedure and Appeals (Consequential and Other Provisions) Act 2004* s. 80 and 82 | 84 of 2004 | 16 Dec 2004 | 2 May 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7129 (correction in *Gazette* 7 Jan 2005 p. 53)) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Public Order in Streets Act 1984* as at 22 Jul 2005** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Major Events Act 2023* s. 112 | 12 of 2023 | 22 May 2023 | 23 May 2023 (see s. 2(b)) |\n\n\nOther notes\n\n1 Now known as the *Public Order in Streets Act 1984*; short title changed (see note under s. 1).\n\n2 The *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 5, the *State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004* s. 167 and 169, and the *State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004* r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.\n\n3 The *Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Sch. 2 cl. 42 was repealed by the *Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Act 2008* s. 77(13).\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nauthorised officer 3\n\nCommissioner 3\n\nnotice 3\n\npermit 3\n\nsection 3\n\nstreet 3\n\nsubsection 3\n\nthoroughfare 3\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not available. The page returned was a system error/redirect notice from the Western Australian Parliamentary Counsel's Office, containing no substantive legal provisions to evaluate."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — the source URL returned an error/redirect page rather than the actual Act","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without access to the legislation's text, provisions, schedules, or definitions","Score of 1 reflects absence of analysable content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ Content Unavailable\n\nThe actual text of the **Public Order in Streets Act 1984** (Western Australia) could not be retrieved. The page hosting this legislation has been taken down or moved as part of a system upgrade on the Western Australian legislation website.\n\n**What we know from the title alone:**\n- This is a **Western Australian law** passed in **1984**\n- It likely regulates behaviour in public spaces (streets, footpaths, public areas)\n- Laws of this type typically cover things like **offensive conduct**, **obstruction of footpaths**, **public disturbances**, and **unlawful assemblies**\n\n**To find the actual legislation**, visit the Western Australian State Law Publisher at www.legislation.wa.gov.au and search for \"Public Order in Streets Act 1984\".\n\n> ⚠️ **No reliable legal analysis can be provided** based on this content — only a placeholder webpage was returned, not the law itself."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The statute originated as a permit/notice scheme for public meetings and processions but has been expanded. Key changes include explicit police powers to give operational instructions for regulating traffic and maintaining order in streets (s9A) and cross‑references to road closure/major events regimes (s9A(2)). The Act now contains stronger evidentiary presumptions (s9(2)–(3)), delegated decision‑making mechanisms (s6), and an express review route to the State Administrative Tribunal (s8). These amendments broadened operational police authority and procedural frameworks beyond a simple meetings/processions permit system."},"complexity_factors":["Delegated decision‑making: Commissioner may delegate permit powers to authorised commissioned officers with published determinations (s6).","Discretionary standards: permits may be refused where there are \"reasonable grounds for apprehending\" risks like serious disorder or obstruction—no exhaustive criteria (s7(2)).","Procedural requirements and timing: written notice with detailed particulars, minimum 4‑day notice or shorter by agreement, and possible verification (s5).","Evidentiary presumptions: prosecutor need not prove permit facts absent contrary evidence; permits create presumptions in other proceedings (s9(2)–(3)).","Police operational powers: Commissioner may issue broad instructions to regulate traffic and maintain order, and officers may give directions enforceable by fine (s9A(1)–(4)).","Interaction of provisions: permit protections are subject to police directions and a mandatory non‑obstruction condition for emergency vehicles (s4(1)–(2), s9A(2)).","Review path: decisions and permit conditions are reviewable at the State Administrative Tribunal, with time/notice thresholds (s8).","Liability protection: actions taken under the Act are shielded from damages claims unless malicious and without reasonable cause (s10).","Definitions and scope breadth: wide definition of \"street\" and of assemblies/processions (s3, s4), affecting many public spaces."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act sets up a permit-and-notice regime for public meetings and processions on streets. Organisers must notify the Commissioner of Police and can be granted permits with conditions; police may also give directions to maintain order and regulate traffic (s5, s7, s9A). Persons acting under a permit get limited protection from ordinary traffic/obstruction offences (s4), while breaches and non‑compliance attract fines and may be reviewed by the State Administrative Tribunal (s9, s8). Organisers carry the compliance burden; the Commissioner (or authorised officers) decides and may delegate (s6)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has expanded significantly beyond its original scope. Originally enacted as the 'Public Meetings and Processions Act 1984', it was renamed to 'Public Order in Streets Act 1984' and now includes section 9A, which grants broad powers to police to 'maintain order in streets' regardless of whether a permitted event is occurring. This effectively transforms the Act from a pure protest-permitting scheme into a general public order management tool. Additionally, the 2023 amendment explicitly links it to the Major Events Act 2023, showing the legislation now interfaces with major event management in ways not originally contemplated."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate cross-referencing: References to Police Act 1892, Road Traffic Act 1974, Major Events Act 2023, and State Administrative Tribunal framework","Nested definitions: 7 defined terms in section 3, with 'street' having an expansive definition including private property used by public, thoroughfares, bridges, tunnels, arcades, and even doorways abutting streets","Conditional logic in section 4(1): Protection from other laws is subject to both police directions under section 9A AND subsection (2) conditions","Deemed conditions: Section 4(2) creates an automatic/implied condition about emergency vehicles that affects permit validity","Evidentiary shortcuts: Section 9(2)-(3) creates presumptions and reversals of burden of proof in criminal proceedings","Delegation mechanics: Section 6 creates a multi-layered delegation system with Gazette publication requirements and deeming provisions","Amendment history visible: Multiple amendment notes (2004, 2023) showing evolution, including insertion of section 9A and expansion of scope beyond original 'meetings and processions' to broader 'order in streets'"],"plain_english_summary":"This Western Australian law sets up a permit system for public protests, rallies, and marches that take place on streets or roads.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Requires permits for gatherings:** If you want to hold a public meeting or march (procession) with 3 or more people on a street, you generally need to apply to the Police Commissioner for a permit at least 4 days in advance.\n- **Defines what counts:** A \"public meeting\" means 3+ people gathering to express views to the public or demonstrate about something (but not religious worship). A \"procession\" means 3+ people moving together along a street in an orderly way.\n- **Sets conditions:** Police can grant permits with conditions, or refuse them if they reasonably fear serious disorder, property damage, public nuisance, dangerous obstructions, or safety risks.\n- **Provides legal protection:** If you have a permit and follow its conditions, you won't be charged with traffic offences or obstruction laws for things you do as part of the protest.\n- **Allows police directions:** Senior police can issue instructions to maintain order in streets, and individual officers can give reasonable directions to people. It's an offence ($2,000 fine) to ignore these directions.\n- **Offers appeals:** If police refuse your permit, impose harsh conditions, or drag their feet, you can appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Protest organisers and participants\n- Police (who issue permits and manage order)\n- Drivers and pedestrians (who have right of way for emergency vehicles protected)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nIt creates a balance between the right to protest and maintaining public order. The law effectively says \"you can block traffic for your protest, but only if you get permission first and play by the rules.\" It also protects emergency vehicles—any protest that blocks ambulances or fire trucks automatically breaches its permit."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984","history":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984/history","analysis":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/public-order-in-streets-act-1984/documents"}}