The Wire

The Victorian Government has come under attack for defending controversial police investigations of local church and community groups. Several organizations including Animal Liberation Victoria, Unity for Peace and Stop the War Coalition have been under surveillance for two years, with a police officer posing as a vegan left wing activist, infiltrating organizations and protest meetings. Civil Liberties groups and the Law Institute of Victoria have condemned the police methods, saying they impinge on privacy and have called for tougher scrutiny of covert operations. But the Victorian Labour government says appropriate measures are in place to safeguard the privacy of civilians.