WA police ban 'excluded persons' from protesting at defence expo

WA Police has banned at least six people from protesting inside the security zone at a defence expo to be held next week. ( ABC News: Keana Naughton )

At least a handful of people have already been banned from protesting at a major defence conference next week in Perth.

WA Police has been given additional temporary powers to manage the expo after new legislation was passed last month.

Activists and the Greens have criticised the police for a "lack of transparency".

A handful of people have already been banned from protesting at a major defence conference in Perth, nearly a week before it gets underway, as Western Australian police put their specially enhanced powers to use.

New legislation was passed last month to provide police with temporary powers to manage the Land Forces event, which opens next Tuesday at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre with an expected 20,000 delegates.

The ABC understands at least six people have received letters from police advising them that they have been banned from protesting inside the security zone.

Authorities have refused to reveal why they have been targeted.

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