---
title: "Legal and Social Issues Committee: reference (Victorian Legislative Council, 27 November 2024) | Politics Computer"
description: "Voting yes supported a Legislative Council referral asking the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into and report by March 2026 on permitting capsicum spray for personal defence, including changes to the Control of Weapons Regulations. Defeated 18 to 22 in the Victorian Legislative Council on 27 November 2024. How every member voted."
url: "https://politics.computer/votes/vic-council/2024-11-27/3"
---

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Parliament of Victoria · Legislative Council · 27 November 2024 · [Crime and safety](https://politics.computer/votes/vic-council?topic=crime%5Fsafety) 

# Legal and Social Issues Committee: reference

Voting yes supported a Legislative Council referral asking the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into and report by March 2026 on permitting capsicum spray for personal defence, including changes to the Control of Weapons Regulations.

Defeated **18** yes **22** no 

The question put

That this house: (1) notes: (a) recent increases in violent crimes, particularly knife attacks in public places, increases in residential aggravated burglaries, and significant increases in aggravated assaults of females; (b) the blame for these crimes rests solely with the perpetrators, not the victims; (c) that the innate ability to deter and defend against attacks varies, with women and the elderly generally being more vulnerable; (d) that capsicum spray can assist with deterrence and self-defence, particularly for the vulnerable; (e) the use of capsicum spray is generally nonlethal and only requires minimal training; (f) that capsicum spray is unlikely to be used in criminal attacks; (g) that stores in Western Australia where these products are legal have seen increased sales in recent months; (h) a petition started by Victorian woman Jayde Howard to legalise capsicum spray for self-defence has gathered nearly 15,000 signatures; and (2) requires the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into, consider and report, by March 2026, on permitting the use of capsicum spray for personal defence, including any issues related to amending schedule 2 of the Control of Weapons Regul

## How each party voted

- Labor All no 0 yes · 15 no  
15 members

  - No [Enver Erdogan](https://politics.computer/mp/enver-erdogan)
  - No [Gayle Tierney](https://politics.computer/mp/gayle-tierney)
  - No [Harriet Shing](https://politics.computer/mp/harriet-shing)
  - No [Ingrid Stitt](https://politics.computer/mp/ingrid-stitt)
  - No [Jacinta Ermacora](https://politics.computer/mp/jacinta-ermacora)
  - No [Jaclyn Symes](https://politics.computer/mp/jaclyn-symes)
  - No [John Berger](https://politics.computer/mp/john-berger)
  - No [Lee Tarlamis](https://politics.computer/mp/lee-tarlamis)
  - No [Lizzie Blandthorn](https://politics.computer/mp/lizzie-blandthorn)
  - No [Michael Galea](https://politics.computer/mp/michael-galea)
  - No [Ryan Batchelor](https://politics.computer/mp/ryan-batchelor)
  - No [Shaun Leane](https://politics.computer/mp/shaun-leane)
  - No [Sheena Watt](https://politics.computer/mp/sheena-watt)
  - No [Sonja Terpstra](https://politics.computer/mp/sonja-terpstra)
  - No [Tom McIntosh](https://politics.computer/mp/tom-mcintosh)
- Liberal All yes 11 yes · 0 no  
11 members

  - Yes [Ann-Marie Hermans](https://politics.computer/mp/ann-marie-hermans)
  - Yes [Bev McArthur](https://politics.computer/mp/bev-mcarthur)
  - Yes [David Davis](https://politics.computer/mp/david-davis)
  - Yes [Evan Mulholland](https://politics.computer/mp/evan-mulholland)
  - Yes [Georgie Crozier](https://politics.computer/mp/georgie-crozier)
  - Yes [Joe McCracken](https://politics.computer/mp/joe-mccracken)
  - Yes [Nick McGowan](https://politics.computer/mp/nick-mcgowan)
  - Yes [Renee Heath](https://politics.computer/mp/renee-heath)
  - Yes [Richard Welch](https://politics.computer/mp/richard-welch)
  - Yes [Trung Luu](https://politics.computer/mp/trung-luu)
  - Yes [Wendy Lovell](https://politics.computer/mp/wendy-lovell)
- Greens All no 0 yes · 4 no  
4 members

  - No [Aiv Puglielli](https://politics.computer/mp/aiv-puglielli)
  - No [Anasina Gray-Barberio](https://politics.computer/mp/anasina-gray-barberio)
  - No [Katherine Copsey](https://politics.computer/mp/katherine-copsey)
  - No [Sarah Mansfield](https://politics.computer/mp/sarah-mansfield)
- Smaller parties and independents

  - No [David Ettershank](https://politics.computer/mp/david-ettershank) Legalise Cannabis
  - No [Rachel Payne](https://politics.computer/mp/rachel-payne) Legalise Cannabis
  - Yes [Gaelle Broad](https://politics.computer/mp/gaelle-broad) Nationals
  - Yes [Melina Bath](https://politics.computer/mp/melina-bath) Nationals
  - No [Georgie Purcell](https://politics.computer/mp/georgie-purcell) Animal Justice Party
  - Yes [Moira Deeming](https://politics.computer/mp/moira-deeming) Family First
  - Yes [Adem Somyurek](https://politics.computer/mp/adem-somyurek) Independent
  - Yes [David Limbrick](https://politics.computer/mp/david-limbrick) Libertarian Party
  - Yes [Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell](https://politics.computer/mp/rikkie-lee-tyrrell) One Nation
  - Yes [Jeff Bourman](https://politics.computer/mp/jeffrey-bourman) Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party

Members who didn't vote (absent, paired or in the chair) aren't listed. A party votes as one when at least three quarters of its members vote together.

[Previous Vote 2 that day](https://politics.computer/votes/vic-council/2024-11-27/2) [All Victorian Legislative Council votes](https://politics.computer/votes/vic-council) [Next Vote 4 that day](https://politics.computer/votes/vic-council/2024-11-27/4) 

Source: [Hansard, Parliament of Victoria](https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity/hansard/hansard-details/HANSARD-974425065-29182#division-marker-1). The summary is AI-written from the question and the bill's official summary, then checked; the record above is the authority.

---

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