Move-on orders

Move-on orders come into effect on Sunday, 25 October 2026.

Move-on orders are part of the Summary Offences Act and provide Police with another tool to use if needed, to stop people engaging in disorderly or disruptive behaviour in public places, such as highly intoxicated people in town at night.

The orders can be used by officers to aid prevention and de-escalation, or to help with incidents that need immediate action. Move-on orders will be used to prevent harm and maintain public safety.

You can find out more on this page or by reading this factsheet:

If you witness behaviour that concerns you and you feel it may meet the grounds for issuing a move-on order, please contact Police on 111 or 105.

If you feel you have been issued a move-on order in error or unfairly, you can contact Police or call 105.

How Police will manage move-on orders

Police will use a graduated response. This means first we will engage with the person to understand their intent and identify any risks in their behaviour. Then we will educate them about move-on orders and explain why their behaviour is causing concern, so they understand the potential consequences of their behaviour. We will then encourage them to change their behaviour and promote voluntary compliance. If these steps aren’t successful, we will then consider the need to enforce by issuing a move-on order.

Police will ensure our response is appropriate for the time, place, and circumstance. We will prioritise voluntary compliance and support referrals to social services and other agencies or councils if appropriate, so people receive the support they need.

Serving a move-on order

A person may receive a move-on order for:

  • behaving in a manner that is disorderly, intimidating, or threatening
  • behaving in a manner that is disruptive
  • unreasonably obstructing, hindering, or preventing someone from entering or leaving a place where a lawful trade, business, or occupation is being conducted
  • breaching the peace
  • begging that unreasonably interferes with the use or enjoyment of the public place by another person in the vicinity of the begging
  • rough sleeping or setting up personal possessions, makeshift shelters, or other structures indicating an intent to inhabit the public place.

Orders can only be issued to people aged 18 years or older. A move-on order cannot be issued for lawful protesting, freedom camping, charitable or not-for profit fundraising, lawful busking or street performances, or begging that is not interfering with use or enjoyment of a public place.

What a move-on order means

A move-on order requires the person to leave the specified location for a specified time – which can be up to 24 hours. The order states how far away you have to move and for how long. It is a paper form which can also be emailed if you give consent.

If the person returns to the location specified while the order is in force, they will have breached the order. Police will again take a graduated response approach to any breaches to understand why they have occurred. However, this could then result in an arrest and a fine not exceeding $1,000 or a maximum of 3 months’ imprisonment.

The exception to this, is orders issued for unreasonable begging or rough sleeping. In these instances, a person does not breach the order if they return for any lawful purpose (such as to access medical or social services, or to buy food) while the order is in force, so long as they don’t engage in a behaviour that could result in a move-on order.

Offences and penalties

If an officer is issuing a move-on order to a person and the person fails or refuses to remain to be served the order; or without reasonable excuse they fail or refuse to give their biographical details; or give any false or misleading details, they have committed an offence. These offences may include arrest and a fine not exceeding $500.

Breaching a move-on order has a maximum penalty of 3 months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $1,000.