Bully law delay blasted
THE State Government must stop dragging its heels on changes to cyber-bullying laws, Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad says.
Changes to state laws which would crack down on cyberbullying have been drafted but are awaiting action.
The Government says it needs to consult more and wait for a national approach.
Premier Will Hodgman made improved cyber-bullying laws an election promise in January.
“A re-elected Hodgman Liberal Government will move swiftly to make serious cyberbullying a criminal offence,” Mr Hodgman said at the time.
Toughening the law around cyber-bullying requires a 570word change to a single section in the Criminal Code Act.
The change was drafted and published by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute two and a half years ago after consultation with community groups, law enforcement and the Director of Public Prosecutions but has progressed no further.
Ms Haddad said the Government needed to act.
“The Government promised action on this in the wake of the serious cyber-bullying scandal involving paid members of the premier’s own staff during the election campaign,” Ms Haddad said.
“More than six months later they are still dragging their heels on cyber bullying laws.
“It’s a disgrace that the Liberals have been making a big show of their law-and-order agenda when they are clearly not serious about progressing this very important issue.
“The Government’s claims that it is sitting on the 2016 report due to its heavy legislative agenda are laughable when the Legislative Council has adjourned early numerous times this year because of a lack of legislation.”
A Government spokesman said legislation would be presented after a national approach to the issue was agreed.
The spokesman said the Government was referring to work being done nationally by the Education Ministers’ Council. The council’s work plan will go to COAG for approval later in the year.
“This work will inform Tasmania’s legislation which will proceed after this process is complete,” he said.
The suicides of 14-year-old Northern Territory girl Amy “Dolly” Everett in January and 13-year-old Adelaide girl Libby Bell in August 2017 shone a light on cyber-bullying.
A Senate committee found existing cyber-bullying laws were not being used properly. It recommended greater vigilance in pursuing offenders and greater consistency in laws between states and territories.