A controversial bill seeking to introduce harsher punishments for protesters who disrupt workplaces has been the subject of fiery debate in the lower house.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2019 would impose 18 months' jail for a first offence and up to 4 years' jail for second offenders.
As of late on Wednesday night, the house was yet to vote on the legislation with many members rising to contribute to the bill.
An amendment to the bill moved by Greens leader Cassy O'Connor, which sought to withdraw the bill and repeal the workplaces protection act, was voted down.
Labor and Speaker Sue Hickey voted in favour of the amendment, however it was narrowly voted down by the government and Clark independent Madeleine Ogilvie.
"We should not be seeking to amend legislation which has already been found to be deeply wanting and invalid by the fact it is unconstitutional," Ms O'Connor said
MORE ON THE ANTI-PROTEST LAWS:
- Parliamentary petition against anti-protest laws launched
- Tasmania is again tackling protesters. What led here?
- Tasmanian government targets activists with new legislation
- Tasmanian anti-protest update released for consultation
- Bob Brown wins High Court case against Tasmania's protest laws
- 'Strongly opposed': Submissions slam protest law changes
- 'It's redundant': Tasmanian anti-protest law update faces criticism
- Environmental protests 'unnecessary' and 'disruptive', Attorney-General says
Ms O'Connor said it was sick the government would treat protesters in the same way it treats pedophiles, with both facing four years' jail if the bill passes.
"There is actually something wrong with a government and a minster that would put forward laws like that, that would treat our young people striking for a safe climate in the same way they would treat a pedophile," she said.
Earlier in the day, Ms O'Connor tabled an e-petition against the legislation which has been signed by over 2500 Tasmanians.
Labor deputy leader Michelle O'Byrne said the Greens' amendment was the cleanest way of dealing with the bill.
"This allows you to kill the bill, because it is fatally flawed, and do the work [to fix it]," Ms O'Byrne said.
Ms O'Byrne said Tasmania was on its way to the High Court again.
"This amendment bill is built on as much as an untruth as the bill it purports to amend," she said.
"This bill undeniably impacts on the voice of workers and our community to be heard."
Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said the bill had been carefully drafted to ensure it did not conflict with other rights.
"The government has now been elected twice with policies designed to further protect the rights of workers and to deal with unlawful interference with workplaces," Mr Barnett said.
Mr Barnett said, although certain provisions of the act were previously found invalid by the High Court, a majority of the judges of the court considered the purpose of the act valid.
"This bill therefore amends the act to criminalise the intentional impediment of business activity in certain circumstances," he said.
Emily Jarvie
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
