Australian police have access to a range of weapons marketed as 'less lethal,' including launchers that fire 'bullet-like missiles,' chemical irritants, and stinger grenades. Experts warn these weapons can cause serious injury or death, yet they are deployed against crowds with minimal oversight.
Weapons and Their Risks
Rohini Haar, a medical adviser at Physicians for Human Rights, notes that 'all of these weapons can kill people' and that there is 'almost zero' global regulation of the industry. In Australia, no nationally enforced standards exist for their use, and police in some states, like Victoria, have refused to disclose weapon details even to parliamentarians, citing operational safety.
Projectiles
Police use 40mm launchers to shoot foam baton or bean bag rounds, designed to 'deter conduct through the pain of impact.' These rounds, often made by US company Combined Systems Inc., are 'functionally rubber bullets' due to their weight and speed. In 2021, Victoria police used foam baton rounds on protesters, leading to injuries and civil cases. One case, settled in April, involved Chris Dahl, who alleged he was shot in the lower back, leaving a wound requiring stitches. Globally, these projectiles have caused deaths and traumatic brain injuries.
Chemical Irritants
Oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, a concentrated chili pepper compound, is widely used. In NSW, officers use Defense Technology OC spray, while Victoria police use Sabre products. OC spray can cause temporary blindness and breathing difficulties. Despite manufacturer guidelines suggesting a minimum distance of six feet, footage shows police using it at closer range. Haar highlights that chemical irritants are indiscriminate and can cause severe injury or death, with emerging evidence of adverse reproductive health outcomes from teargas.
PepperBall Launchers
Victoria police use VKS PepperBall semi-automatic launchers from US company United Tactical Systems. These fire projectiles that burst on impact, releasing a pepper irritant. The manufacturer acknowledges misuse can cause 'serious injury or death.' In the US, similar weapons have caused fatalities, such as a 2004 incident where a college student was killed by a pellet shot from an air launcher.
Distraction Devices
Stinger grenades and flashbangs, designed to emit extreme sound, light, and pressure, are used in crowd control. These devices can cause blast injuries, burns, and lifelong scars. Experts like Helen Close from Omega Research Foundation argue they should not be used in protests due to their inaccuracy and potential for severe injuries. In Melbourne, a protester named Scout suffered leg injuries from a stinger grenade and continues to experience phantom pain.
Tasers
Tasers, or conducted energy devices, are used across Australia. Their use has doubled in NSW in five years, with 1,403 drawn or deployed in 2024-25. Concerns arise over their effectiveness and disproportionate use against Indigenous Australians, who accounted for 57% of Taser deployments in NSW in 2024-25. Inquests have revealed breaches of policy and risks of repeated activations.
Lack of Transparency
Police forces obscure their use of force through non-disclosure agreements in settlements and lack of public data. Oversight bodies have criticized underreporting and inconsistencies in recording use of force. Civil claims against police for excessive force are rising, but settlements often remain confidential. Jeremy King, a lawyer, notes that police deliberately hide details of these weapons behind closed doors.
The increased militarization of police has surprised some protesters, who see officers 'fully kitted up with guns and grenades' at rallies. Advocates call for a ban on these weapons for crowd control, arguing they create unsafe environments and are not effective for dispersal.
