Overview
- Justice Elizabeth Bennett ruled on Friday that the November 30 declaration was invalid and unlawful.
- The court found Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran applied incorrect statutory criteria and failed to properly consider Section 13 of the Charter of Human Rights, which protects privacy.
- The order had permitted searches without a warrant or suspicion and directions to remove masks or leave across the Melbourne CBD and nearby suburbs, but police revoked it on January 9.
- A legal challenge backed by the Human Rights Law Centre was brought by Tarneen Onus Browne and Benny Zable, with a third applicant, David Hack, later added to the case.
- The court dismissed a separate claim targeting mask-removal powers on constitutional grounds, and full written reasons are to be published later.