Third shot at ‘anti-protest laws’ misses the point, Bob Brown Foundation says
The state government will once again attempt to move ‘anti-protest laws’ through parliament after an unsuccessful attempt to introduce new laws last year.
Tasmania
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The state government will once again attempt to move workplace protection legislation, otherwise known as anti-protest laws, through parliament after an unsuccessful attempt to introduce new laws last year.
The new bill seeks to amend the Police Offences Act in relation to existing offences around nuisances.
If successful, protesters could be slapped with harsher fines or longer jail terms for action that obstructs streets or causes a nuisance to workplaces, where penalties would be more severe if a person is convicted of trespassing.
Corporate entities would also be included and could pay penalties of more than $100,000.
The state government released its legislation for public consultation on Monday.
“This Bill will toughen our laws and increase the penalties to better protect workers and their right to work and the right for businesses to operate free from intrusion or workplace invasion,” resources minister Guy Barnett said.
“This Bill is needed because the existing laws are clearly not adequately discouraging extremist protesters from invading Tasmanian workplace and disrupting legally operating businesses.”
A Tasmanian Forest Products Association spokesperson said laws were needed to protect workers.
“The TFPA is not opposed to people’s right to protest peacefully, however some protestors behave like they are above the law and unfortunately impinge on the rights of ordinary Tasmanians seeking to earn a lawful living,” they said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor accused the government of “cracking down on freedom of speech.”
“It remains entirely designed as a political tool to target people who are fighting to save forests, the climate and Takayna from destruction and greed,” Ms O’Connor said.
The Bob Brown Foundation said the community wanted to see action over climate change over penalising protesters.
“In the third attempt after previous monumental failures, Premier Gutwein’s government are choosing to penalise Tasmania’s defenders over real and urgent climate action,” environmentalist Bob Brown said.
The bill will be open for public comment until April 15.
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