THE Liberal government is celebrating the safe passage of its anti-protest bill through the Legislative Council. But Labor and the Greens say the government has no cause to toast its "awful" legislation. A final upper house vote on the Workplace (Protection from Protesters) Bill succeeded nine votes to five yesterday afternoon. The bill will be returned to the lower house next week, where the government has the numbers to pass its legislation into law. Protesters captured under the looming workplace laws will face hefty fines, with repeat offenders threatened with up to four years in prison. However, controversial minimum fines and mandatory prison terms have been removed from the bill. Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the laws would send an unequivocal message. "Tasmanian workers will finally have the strong legal protection they need from radical protesters," Mr Harriss said. "For the first time, workplaces and workers will have specific protections from radical protesters seeking to make their point by destroying livelihoods." But Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the Legislative Council had torn the government's bill to shreds. "There were amendments on amendments as upper house members tried to salvage something from the wreck," Mr Green said. "For the government to now claim a win is laughable." Mr Green said Labor would consider the amended bill closely before determining its position in the House of Assembly. "Labor backs proper protections for Tasmanian workers - that's why we strengthened laws in government," he said. "But our strong support of workers does not mean we are obliged to pass bad legislation." Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said the bill was an unworkable mess. "There was never any way to fix this bill, but it's in more of a mess now that the Legislative Council has finished with it," Mr McKim said. "We are pleased that the mandatory sentencing provisions are gone, but the bill remains deliberate in its intent to stifle dissent which is extremely unhealthy in a democracy." Mr McKim said the Greens would seek further advice on a High Court challenge should the legislation pass through the House of Assembly.
THE Liberal government is celebrating the safe passage of its anti-protest bill through the Legislative Council.
But Labor and the Greens say the government has no cause to toast its "awful" legislation.
A final upper house vote on the Workplace (Protection from Protesters) Bill succeeded nine votes to five yesterday afternoon.
The bill will be returned to the lower house next week, where the government has the numbers to pass its legislation into law.
Protesters captured under the looming workplace laws will face hefty fines, with repeat offenders threatened with up to four years in prison.
However, controversial minimum fines and mandatory prison terms have been removed from the bill.
Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the laws would send an unequivocal message.
"Tasmanian workers will finally have the strong legal protection they need from radical protesters," Mr Harriss said.
"For the first time, workplaces and workers will have specific protections from radical protesters seeking to make their point by destroying livelihoods."
But Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the Legislative Council had torn the government's bill to shreds.
"There were amendments on amendments as upper house members tried to salvage something from the wreck," Mr Green said.
"For the government to now claim a win is laughable."
Mr Green said Labor would consider the amended bill closely before determining its position in the House of Assembly.
"Labor backs proper protections for Tasmanian workers - that's why we strengthened laws in government," he said.
"But our strong support of workers does not mean we are obliged to pass bad legislation."
Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said the bill was an unworkable mess.
"There was never any way to fix this bill, but it's in more of a mess now that the Legislative Council has finished with it," Mr McKim said.
"We are pleased that the mandatory sentencing provisions are gone, but the bill remains deliberate in its intent to stifle dissent which is extremely unhealthy in a democracy."
Mr McKim said the Greens would seek further advice on a High Court challenge should the legislation pass through the House of Assembly.
