Under the laws, police could ban teenagers from associating with those who have been convicted of a criminal offence

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Police in Victoria could ban “cleanskin” teenagers from associating with adolescents who have been convicted of a criminal offence – in person and on social media – under new anti-consorting laws that legal groups warn represent a dangerous overreach.

The Labor government announced on Tuesday morning that laws it had established to tackle outlaw motorcycle gangs would be extended to those under 18, meaning police could issue teenagers with unlawful association notices – including for associating with other teenagers.

The introduction of the laws to parliament today comes as the Victorian Liberal opposition and the Turnbull government suggest the state is facing a youth gangs problem, a claim denied by police.

The Victorian police minister, Lisa Neville, said the new laws would only potentially prohibit contact with teenagers as young as 14 if they had been convicted of violent crimes such as home invasions, armed robberies and carjackings, and would need to be issued by senior police officers.

Anyone who breached the order, which could be given in person, over the phone or on social media, could face three years jail.

Neville confirmed that a person, including a teenager, could be issued with a unlawful association notice even if they themselves had not been convicted of a criminal offence.

Daniel Andrews says family ‘deserve better’ than Dutton comments about woman’s death Read more

“It could be a cleanskin young person associating with people police are very concerned about,” she said. “They need to be people who are, in relation to adults, have been charged and convicted of an indictable offence of at least five years’ imprisonment. In relation to youth offenders, they have to have committed offences like car-jacking, aggravated burglary, serious violent offences.”

Critics said the laws appeared to be rushed, represented dangerous overreach by the government and introduced “guilt by association” into Victoria.

“People should be free to have a barbecue, go to the movies, talk online, play football or socialise with whoever they choose,” said Melanie Poole, the director of engagement at the Federation of Community Legal Centres. “If introduced, these unfair laws will affect the freedom of all Victorians.”

The federal Greens MP Adam Bandt said the Labor government was “was about to join the Liberals in a law and order auction”.

“It suggests that Victorian Labor is now looking at trying to take the state down the Queensland route, where it’s guilt by association, and where even if you haven’t committed any offence, all of a sudden because you happen to be of a particular group, or being near particular people, then all of a sudden you become guilty,” Bandt told ABC Radio National.

The government said the bill would include safeguards, including that notices would expire after 12 months, rather than three years, for children, Aboriginal people, or those with a cognitive, physical or mental health impairment.

Neville said the government hoped to learn the lessons of a similar scheme in New South Wales, where she said Indigenous Australians had been overrepresented.

Victoria’s independent broad-based anti-corruption commission will be given oversight of the scheme.

The Victorian opposition said the move proved the premier, Daniel Andrews, was wrong to say there was no gangs crisis in Melbourne. The Coalition has already announced a similar policy, which it will take to the November election.