Withdraw call as government abuse bill debate begins, minister told to go back to drawing board

A government attempt to pass laws to better protect children has run into trouble after non-government MPs described it as poorly drafted and asked for it to be withdrawn.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Felix Ellis, with Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Specialist Support, Stuart Wilkinson Stuart Wilkinson at a media conference at parliament Square in Hobart on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

A government attempt to pass laws to better protect children from sex abusers has run into trouble after non-government MPs described it as poorly drafted and asked for it to be withdrawn.

The Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill creates a scheme to allow parents or guardians to inquire whether an individual with regular unsupervised access to their child is a registered on the Community Protection Offender Register.

The bill has already been extensively redrafted after public consultation identified serious concerns about potential unintended consequences including the prospect of jail terms for victim-survivors and their families who disclosed information contained on the register.

Police Minister Felix Ellis. Picture: Elise Kaine

Labor, the Greens and MPs Craig Garland, Kristie Johnston, Andrew Jenner and David O’Byrne took the unusual step of writing to the Minister Felix Ellis suggesting the government hold off debating the bill in its current form.

“We have serious concerns with the standard, lack of consultation and potential legal implications of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill 2024, they wrote.

“A number of the groups who provided submissions as part of the initial consultation process to the draft Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill 2023, support our concerns.

“Most were not provided an opportunity to make further submissions to the substantial changes within the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill 2024.

“The implications of allowing the Bill in its current form to progress through parliament would be detrimental to the important task of ensuring all recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry are informed, adequately consulted and should not undermine our current standard of legislation.”

They asked for the current bill to withdrawn and redrafted.

Mr Ellis trying to politicise the bill was a very mistake.

“These laws were tabled in November, and we look forward to commencing debate today, but we’re also cognisant that there may be members who need even more time and we’re happy to begin debate and also continue to work with them about any amendments that they might have to the legislation,” he said.

Labor member for Lyons Jen Butler. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Nothing is more important than protecting our children.

“We’re satisfied that the drafting of this bill is strong and it also aligns with the broader national movement to ensure that there is timely and targeted information available to communities and people as it relates to the sex offender register.”

Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Jen Butler said the bill needed to be reworked.

“Labor supports the intention of the bill, but concerns have been raised across the parliament about how it’s been developed,” she said.

The minister needs to go and do the necessary work, including appropriate consultation with victim-survivors, to ensure the bill works as intended.

Parliament was adjourned before the bill could be debated on Thursday.

Originally published as Withdraw call as government abuse bill debate begins, minister told to go back to drawing board