FreeCamps

Someone has asked you to move on. What now?

Not everyone who tells you to leave has the power to make you. This page explains who can, what they have to tell you, and what to do afterwards if it wasn't right — for Queensland.

Right now, being safe beats being right. If someone is asking you to move, you can move and challenge it later. That route keeps you out of trouble; arguing on the spot rarely does. Write down what happened as soon as you can — time, place, who, and what they said.

Who is asking?

A police officer

Police do have a specific power to move you on. In Queensland a police officer may give a person doing a relevant act any direction that is reasonable in the circumstances.

The power applies at or near a “regulated place” — which includes public places — where an officer reasonably suspects the person’s behaviour is causing anxiety, interfering with trade or business, is disorderly, indecent, offensive or threatening, or is disrupting an event or gathering.

What they must do: An officer giving a move-on direction must tell the person the reasons for it. When giving a move-on direction, a police officer must as soon as reasonably practicable give their name, rank and station — and, if not in uniform, must first tell you that they are a police officer.

The limit: A move-on direction can require a person to leave a place or a stated part of it, or to move a stated reasonable distance in a stated direction — and in each case not to return for a stated reasonable time of no more than 24 hours.

Why to comply anyway: Contravening a police direction is an offence unless the person has a reasonable excuse. Arguing on the spot is not the remedy: the lawful route is to comply and complain afterwards. Legal Aid Queensland's plain-language guidance is that if a police officer asks you to leave, you should do so, and that failing to comply may itself be an offence.

A council officer

The Local Government Act 2009 describes an authorised person's powers as asking for a name and address and entering property. It gives them no power to direct a person to leave a public place — that is a police power under separate legislation.

What they must do: A council authorised person may only exercise their powers if they first produce their identity card for inspection, or have it displayed so it is clearly visible. Asking to see it is reasonable and is exactly what the Act contemplates.

If a council officer says you are breaking a local law, the question worth asking is which local law — and your council's page on this site says whether we have verified one. Check your council.

A security guard, a landholder or a passer-by

Security guards may ask people to leave premises on the owner's behalf and use reasonable force to remove them, but they do not have police powers. Whether someone who is not a police officer can require you to leave a particular place depends on who controls that land, which is beyond what this page can tell you — if it matters to your situation, that is a question for Legal Aid or a community legal centre, both listed below.

What you can ask, calmly

  1. “Are you a police officer?” A police officer who is not in uniform must also produce their identity card for inspection.
  2. “Can I have your name, rank and station?” When giving a move-on direction, a police officer must as soon as reasonably practicable give their name, rank and station — and, if not in uniform, must first tell you that they are a police officer. A council officer has no rank or station to give — their duty is the identity card above.
  3. “What's the reason for the direction?” An officer giving a move-on direction must tell the person the reasons for it.
  4. “How long, and how far?” A move-on direction can require a person to leave a place or a stated part of it, or to move a stated reasonable distance in a stated direction — and in each case not to return for a stated reasonable time of no more than 24 hours.
  5. “Which local law?” If a council officer can't name one, write down what they say — and check what this site has verified for your council.

Ask, note the answers, comply, and take it up afterwards. You do not have to argue the law at the roadside to keep your rights.

If you think it was wrong

About a police officer: Complaints about a police officer can be made to the Crime and Corruption Commission, which deals with serious allegations against police. You can report an officer directly to the Queensland Police Service instead, which is legally obliged to notify the CCC of corruption allegations against police. Customer service complaints should go to the QPS. Report to the CCC.

About a council officer: complain to the council first — that is usually faster — and if that goes nowhere, the Ombudsman. The Queensland Ombudsman can investigate complaints about local councils, as well as government departments and public authorities. Queensland Ombudsman.

About a fine: A fine can be disputed before its due date by contacting the agency or court that issued it — so a fine is worth acting on early rather than ignoring. How to dispute a fine, or get advice from one of the services below.

Where to get help

Legal Aid Queensland

Legal Aid Queensland gives free legal advice and information to people facing financial hardship, on 1300 651 188.

Call 1300 651 188

Homeless Hotline

The Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service on 1800 474 753, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls to it are free.

Call 1800 474 753

Community Legal Centres Queensland provides free or low-cost legal support through 32 independent, community-led centres across Queensland. The Queensland Government's legal support directory lists them along with specialist services.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

What this page is not

This is legal information, not legal advice: it describes what the law says in general, not what you should do in your situation. It is also Queensland-only — other states have different move-on powers. If something has already happened to you, talk to Legal Aid or a community legal centre rather than relying on this page. Full disclaimer.

Where this comes from

  • “A police officer may give to a person or group of persons doing a relevant act any direction that is reasonable in the circumstances.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 48, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “A police officer may exercise a power under section 48 in relation to a person at or near a regulated place if a police officer reasonably suspects the person’s behaviour is or has been— (a) causing anxiety to a person entering, at or leaving the place, reasonably arising in all the circumstances; or (b) interfering with trade or business at the place by unnecessarily obstructing, hindering or impeding someone entering, at or leaving the place; or (c) disorderly, indecent, offensive, or threatening to someone entering, at or leaving the place; or (d) disrupting the peaceable and orderly conduct of any event, entertainment or gathering at the place.” “This part applies in relation to the following places (regulated places)—(a) public places, including a public place in a safe night precinct or designated business and community precinct; (b) prescribed places that are not also public places.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 46, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “(a) leave the regulated place and not return or be within the regulated place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours; (b) leave a stated part of the regulated place and not return or be within the stated part of the regulated place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours; (c) move from a particular location at or near the regulated place for a stated reasonable distance, in a stated direction, and not return or be within the stated distance from the place within a stated reasonable time of not more than 24 hours.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 48, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “The police officer must tell the person or group of persons the reasons for giving the direction.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 48, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “The police officer must, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform the person the subject of the power of the following— (a) if the police officer is not in uniform— (i) that the officer is a police officer; and (ii) the officer’s name, rank and station; (b) if the police officer is in uniform—the officer’s name, rank and station.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 637, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “If the police officer is not in uniform, the police officer must also produce for inspection the officer’s identity card.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 637, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “A person must not contravene a requirement or direction given by a police officer, including a requirement or direction contained in a notice given by a police officer, under this Act, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.” — Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, s 791, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “The police officer must tell you why you are being told to leave. If a police officer asks you to leave—you should do so.” “If you don't comply you may be breaking the law by contravening a direction or requirement of police.” — Breaking the law in a public place, Legal Aid Queensland. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (page text retrieved via Internet Archive snapshot of 13 May 2025).
  • “The powers of an authorised person include the power, in certain circumstances—(a) to ask a person for their name and address; and (b) to enter a property, including private property.” — Local Government Act 2009, s 125, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “An authorised person may exercise a power under this division, in relation to a person, only if the authorised person—(a) first produces his or her identity card for the person to inspect; or (b) has his or her identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to the person.” — Local Government Act 2009, s 126, Queensland Legislation (Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel). Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “They’re allowed to ask people to leave a premise on the owners’ behalf and to use reasonable force to remove them. They don’t have police powers.” — Refusal of service, exclusions and bag-checks, Legal Aid Queensland. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (page text retrieved via Internet Archive snapshot of 7 Sep 2025).
  • “You can make a complaint about a police officer to the CCC. The CCC deals with serious allegations against police.” — Complaints against police officers, Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “You may also choose to report the officer directly to the Queensland Police Service, who are legally obliged to notify the CCC of corruption allegations against police. You should report customer service complaints directly to the QPS.” — Complaints against police officers, Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “We can look into Queensland agencies such as: Government departments Local councils Public authorities” — Make a complaint, Queensland Ombudsman. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026 (page text retrieved via Internet Archive snapshot of 18 Mar 2026).
  • “You can dispute a fine or court-ordered fine before the due date by contacting the agency or court that issued it.” — Dispute a fine, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “Provides free legal advice and information, representation and specialist services for people facing financial hardship.” “1300 651 188” — Legal support services, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “Provides free or low-cost legal support. The provider has 32 independent, community-led community legal centres operating across Queensland.” — Legal support services, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.
  • “Homeless Hotline is a phone information and referral service” “Phone 1800 474 753” “24 hours a day, 7 days a week” “Calls to the Homeless Hotline are free.” — Homeless Hotline, Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 Aug 2026.