Victoria’s Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has promised to introduce a new criminal offence targeting the destruction and damage of war memorials and other protected sites, in a pitch aimed at lifting penalties for vandals who deface places of military, religious, cultural and historical significance.
Under the policy announced by the Liberals and Nationals on April 20, offenders would face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and would be subject to a mandatory court order requiring them to pay the full cost of repair and restoration.
The proposal would apply not only to war memorials, but also to a broader category of “protected sites”, including religious, cultural and historic locations and landmarks. Wilson said the rise in attacks on memorials and significant public sites had become intolerable, arguing that sacred places of reflection were not being properly protected under the Allan Government.
“Our plan sends a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated and will hold offenders to account, making them responsible for the costs of repair and restoration.”
The Opposition says at least 18 statues or memorials have been vandalised since 2020 without a single offender being charged, though that figure has been presented as part of the Coalition’s case for tougher laws.
The announcement comes after a string of high-profile incidents involving memorials in Victoria. In January 2025, an Anzac memorial in Parkville was graffitied ahead of Australia Day, alongside damage to other memorials in Melbourne. More recently, reported that plaques commemorating fallen soldiers were stolen and damaged at Victoria Gardens in Prahran over the Easter long weekend, while other memorial plaques were also taken from Caulfield Park.
Wilson said the proposed offence would send a clear message that desecration of war memorials and significant sites would no longer be treated as low-level vandalism. Shadow Finance Minister Bridget Vallence said Victorians had “had enough” of the division caused by these attacks and argued offenders should be forced to pay for the damage they cause.
The Liberals say the measure would form part of a broader law-and-order agenda that also includes a promise to recruit an extra 3,000 police officers and restore service hours at more than 40 police stations, which they say have been closed or downgraded under Labor.
The policy would go further than the changes recently introduced in New South Wales. The Minns Government passed legislation last year creating an aggravated offence for intentionally or recklessly damaging a war memorial, lifting the maximum penalty from five years to seven years in prison and allowing courts to order compensation for repair costs. If enacted, Wilson’s proposed 10-year maximum would exceed that of the NSW benchmark.
Labor has pushed back on the idea that Victoria lacks penalties altogether. According to Herald Sun reporting, Premier Jacinta Allan said it was already against the law to vandalise or desecrate memorials and that jail penalties already applied, while the question of charges in individual cases was a matter for Victoria Police. Even so, the Opposition is betting that recent attacks on memorials have created a political opening for a tougher response.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
