Time right for bully law

Attorney-General Elise Archer will this week introduce legislation into state parliament to tackle the most serious cases of bullying.

Bullying can be hard to detect and often maidenly difficult to stop. Its impact causes emotional damage and can sometimes drive victims to self-harm. Picture: SUPPLIED

ATTORNEY-General Elise Archer will this week introduce legislation into state parliament to tackle the most serious cases of bullying.

It is widely expected to mean that the current laws relating to stalking are expanded to ensure that the worst cases of bullying are dealt with by the criminal courts. It would be a welcome development, and a centrepiece of what the government says is its whole-of-government and whole of community approach to tackling bullying.

The legislation is timely. Friday was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Campaigners used the day to highlight the widespread nature of this blight.

New research revealed that 81 per cent of preschool children had access to Internet-connected devices. Whereas once bullying was something that was confined to the real world, it can now spread online, potentially exposing victims to a 24-hour cycle of intimidation and harassment. The reach of the internet, particularly on mobile devices has expanded more quickly than society’s ability to deal with the challenges it poses. Bullying can be hard to detect and often maidenly difficult to stop. Its impact causes emotional damage and can sometimes drive victims to self-harm.

Fortunately, awareness of the extent of the problem is growing. The Allanah and Madeline Foundation, for example, has done excellent work, particularly with its eSmart Digital Licence — an online cybersafety tool that teaches children critical digital skills to be smart, safe and responsible online. As a result nearly 1800 Tasmanian students have been equipped with the skills they need to keep themselves safer online.

The government says also planning a forum for key stakeholders to share ideas and ensure its whole of community approach. The Department of Education has rolled out a website: Bullying Stops Here which includes resources for teachers and principals.

Bullying is of course not only confined to the education system, but it can also be an unwelcome feature of workplaces, families, community groups, even our political institutions.

Like most social problems, bullying is a complex problem for which there is no single or simple solution. The legislation to be presented to state parliament this week is a good step, but it can only form part of the overall solution. The government of course has a role to play beyond the obvious need for ongoing vigilance: funding needs to be kept up for programs to raise awareness and to educate about bullying. Public sector and private employers and community groups need to develop strong responses and codes of conduct to ensure that bullying is not allowed to flourish.

And social media companies, in particular, need to greatly improve their approach to the problem to make it easier for victims to report incidents and receive and take appropriate action.