Anti-bullying, anti-protest legislation to be introduced this week as parliament returns

Proposed laws that would criminalise cyber bullying and online harassment will be introduced to parliament this week, the first sitting week of the year.

A FRESH attempt to introduce tough anti-protest laws that were rejected by the High Court will be introduced to State Parliament this week.

Leader of Government business Michael Ferguson said the government had been twice elected with the laws as a central part of its platform and was determined to see the promise through.

The controversial laws were enacted in 2014, used once in 2016 and thrown out as unconstitutional in 2017.

“We’ve got an improved piece of legislation and we’ll be looking for Labor’s support on this because this is about protecting business, protecting jobs, and helping the Tasmanian economy,” Mr Ferguson said.

He said the proposed laws “will not cause any trouble to people who peacefully protest but don’t disrupt businesses and people going about their work”.

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Concerns have previously been raised the proposed laws are too broad. The law they replaced carried fines of up to $250,000 and five years’ imprisonment for illegal protesting and were descirbed by one judge as “overly broad, vague and confusing”.

The Greens have vowed to fight the proposed legislation, while Labor said it would consult before stating its position.

Proposed laws that would criminalise cyber bullying and online harassment will be introduced to parliament this week, the first sitting week of the year.

“We’ll be introducing some significant pieces of legislation, particularly around cyber bullying and online harassment of people — which is designed to cause extreme humiliation to members of the public — that will be against the law,” Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly Michael Ferguson said on Sunday.

Three senior women in parliament — Speaker Sue Hickey, Opposition Leader Rebecca White and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor — revealed at the weekend some of the abuse they have each received on social media.

Labor is pushing the Government to provide funding certainty to 18 organisations that support people with a disability in Tasmania.

Opposition disabilities spokeswoman Jo Siejka said the funding for those organisations would run out at the end of June.

“Ninety-thousand Tasmanians aren’t eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and their only option for support is to rely on services funded by the Tasmanian Government,” Ms Siejka said.

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Tasmanian Greens Franklin MHA Rosalie Woodruff said the Greens would be making the issue of climate change “an issue we talk about every single day of parliament until the Government takes strong action”.

The Government will also introduce legislation this week that better recognises the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder can have on the lives of state service employees, particularly those working in emergency services.

When the parliament returns Tuesday there will be two new Liberal faces in the House of Assembly with Lyons MHA John Tucker replacing Rene Hidding and Joan Rylah returning to replace Adam Brooks.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming John Tucker and Joan Rylah to the Tasmanian parliament this week — they’re great Tasmanians, they’re wonderful people,” Mr Ferguson said.

He warned Labor the two new members “will give you a hard ground game in Braddon and Lyons”.

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