The Rockliff Liberal Government remains committed to keeping our frontline workers safe from harm.
The Tasmanian community has a clear expectation that assaults and other serious offences against our frontline workers is entirely unacceptable.
Public consultation commences today on the Sentencing Amendment (Presumptive Sentencing for Assaults on Frontline Workers) Bill 2024, which will require a sentencing court to impose at least six months' imprisonment on a person convicted of any offence which caused serious bodily harm to an identified Tasmanian frontline worker.
This includes frontline health, safety and emergency services workers, correctional services officers, retail, hospitality and passenger transport workers.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said that the Rockliff Liberal Government will always advocate for strong penalties for those who assault Tasmanians who serve our community in frontline jobs.
"What this presumption of minimum sentencing terms will do is ensure there is an absolute minimum floor for sentencing these crimes which cannot be breached without very strong reasons why," Attorney General Barnett said.
"Our Government has not wavered from our firm commitment to protect our hardworking frontline workers by providing for minimum terms for a range offences, and the need to balance judicial discretion with community expectations."
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis said that if passed, this legislation will extend the suite of laws currently in place for mandatory sentencing for assaults against police officers, and predators who harm children.
"The Rockliff Liberal Government is sending a clear message that assaults and serious offences against our health and emergency services, retail, hospitality and transportation workers are not OK.
"The people of Tasmania demand that anyone who commits these offences against first responders and frontline workers should face serious consequences – not a slap on the wrist.
"We've taken these policies to three separate elections and each and every time we've received a strong mandate from the community to pursue these laws," Minister Ellis said.
The presumption of mandatory minimum sentencing provisions proposed in the Bill will not apply where the Court believes the imposition of such a sentence would be unjust when considering the circumstances of the offence or the offender. The provisions will also not apply to offenders who are under the age of 18 years at the time the crime was committed, or, in certain circumstances, to offenders who have impaired mental functioning that is causally linked to the crime.
Consultation on the draft Bill is open until 29 March 2024. Please visit https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/community-consultation/consultations/sentencing-amendment-presumptive-sentencing-for-assaults-on-frontline-workers-bill-2024
