Holding peaceful protests and rallies
Give notice of your plans to hold a peaceful assembly. Find out about the rules relating to Council spaces.
How to hold a peaceful assembly
Under the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992 (the Act), you have a right to participate in peaceful assemblies.
A peaceful assembly allows people with shared views to publicly express them. It includes a:
- peaceful demonstration
- peaceful protest
- public rally or march.
An assembly is considered authorised if the:
- organiser has given notice of intention to hold the assembly
- notice complies with the requirements in the Act
- relevant authority has approved the assembly.
You must notify Council if you intend to hold an assembly in a Council-controlled public place, including:
- parks
- reserves
- pedestrian malls
- squares.
Apply for your peaceful assembly
Follow our step-by-step process to submit your notice and carry out an authorised assembly.
You must notify the Queensland Police Service (QPS) of your intention to hold a public assembly.
Visit the QPS website to download a Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly form.
Write your answers by hand and submit your form either in person at your local police station, by mail or by email.
Complete the online form to notify Council of your peaceful assembly.
Make sure you give as much notice as possible.
You only need to notify Council if you intend to gather in or pass through a Council-controlled space.
Alternatively, you can provide written notice to Council, as per the requirements set out in section 9 of the Act.
You will be contacted by Council via email to confirm the details of your peaceful assembly.
We may request additional information for our assessment. This may include a request to change the location or time of your peaceful assembly if there is a conflict with another event.
Once we have completed our assessment, you will receive a Notice of Permission via email, which authorises the assembly.
Considerations for key locations
When planning a peaceful assembly, you should consider the suitability and restrictions of King George Square, Reddacliff Place, city malls and parks.
King George Square and Reddacliff Place
You can hold a peaceful assembly in King George Square and Reddacliff Place.
If you plan to hold an assembly in King George Square or Reddacliff Place, make sure you:
- provide enough notice to Council
- check the planned events in King George Square and at Reddacliff Place.
This will help ensure there are no event clashes and the space can safely accommodate your assembly.
City malls
You may be able to hold an assembly in one of Council’s city malls:
- Queen Street Mall
- Brunswick Street Mall
- Chinatown Mall
- Reddacliff Place.
There are different requirements to carry out non-commercial promotional activities in the city malls. These are regulated under the Public Land and Council Assets Local Law 2014.
Council parks
You can also conduct your peaceful assembly in one of Council’s popular parks.
When you choose a park, consider whether it will be able to safely accommodate the proposed assembly.
Contact information
To contact us regarding peaceful assemblies:
- email NOI@brisbane.qld.gov.au
- phone Council on 07 3403 8888
- write to:
Divisional Manager
City Administration and Governance
GPO BOX 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
Frequently asked questions
You may need to comply with certain conditions to hold a peaceful assembly.
To learn more about notice conditions, read section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992.
Yes, Council or another relevant authority may refuse your assembly.
To understand assembly refusals, read section 12 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992.
You’re allowed to participate in an authorised peaceful assembly.
The assembly must be peaceful and comply with other relevant conditions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992.
Read more about legal immunity for participants in section 6 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992.