Liberals set to push amended protest bill

Legislative Councillors were last night informed that the Liberals intended to narrow the scope of their Workplace (Protection from Protesters) Bill to remove "unintended consequences and perceived ambiguities".

MLCs refused to send the bill to an inquiry earlier this month, with many arguing the proposed laws were too "poorly written and deeply flawed" to fix through possible amendments.

But the government vowed to push on with its bill regardless, and is now hopeful a number of key changes will appease concerns from MLCs, individuals and organisations.

Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest last night said amendments to the bill were absolutely essential, and the proposed changes were a positive step.

Rumney independent MLC Tony Mulder welcomed the changes, saying they were in line with his push to isolate serious offences and target organised groups as well as repeat offenders.

Several other MLCs chose to reserve judgment on the mooted changes until they had been fully detailed in writing.

As the bill stands, workplace protesters would be slapped with hefty on-the-spot fines and repeat offenders threatened with mandatory jail time.

The laws were pitched as a means to stomp out "hard green activism" hampering Tasmania's forestry industry, but have been widely criticised for having much wider ramifications.

In an email from Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Vanessa Goodwin, MLCs were told the bill's remit would no longer extend to protests staged at public places, professional offices, shops or markets.

Included in other changes being proposed by the government are:

• Strengthening tests determining whether protesters are deliberately obstructing a business before taking action under the bill.
• Changing the range of penalties imposed on summary offences.
• Giving prosecutors power to decide whether cases are pursued as summary offences in the Magistrates Court or as indictments in the Supreme Court.

Minimum three month jail terms for repeat offenders will be maintained.

The government has also vowed to address issues raised by the TFGA.

Its promise is understood to relate to concerns that farmers could be arrested under the laws for holding "Lock The Gate" style protests against gas exploration on their own land.

Legislative Councillors have been told the raft of amendments are now being drafted, and will be introduced before the bill is debated in about four weeks.