Victoria's thin blue line will remain clipped and hairless after a judge dismissed an officer's bid to keep his beard.
Victorian Supreme Court judge Gregory Garde on Thursday found there was no legal error in a tribunal finding that Victoria Police's 2011 ban beards and long hair was not discriminatory.
Leading Senior Constable Michael Kuyken, who has been a sworn member of Victoria Police since 1996 and has worn a goatee from 2004, had appealed the tribunal's 2013 decision.
He was one of 16 officers who argued before Victoria's Civil and Administrative Tribunal they were being discriminated against on the basis of their physical appearances.
In the ruling, VCAT rejected Mr Kuyken's submission that facial hair was a form of protected expression.
The tribunal found a reasonable member of the public would not consider Mr Kuyken's goatee imparts information, such as his desire to be an individual.
Justice Garde on Thursday found there was no error by the tribunal's finding in favour of former chief commissioner Ken Lay, and dismissed the matter.
"The Tribunal was not satisfied that having a goatee imparts any information or ideas, or conveys any meaning at all," Justice Garde said in his reasons.
"There is no reason why the Chief Commissioner cannot set other grooming standards as he has done."
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