Tasmania’s workplace protection legislation was defeated yesterday by two votes. The proposed laws would have imposed hefty fines and potential prison terms on protesters found to have impeded, obstructed or damaged Tasmanian businesses. Source: Timberbiz
They would have introduced offences around trespassing on business premises, obstructing public thoroughfares and threatening to impede business activity.
It comes after an earlier version of the legislation – a key election commitment of the Liberal government – was ruled invalid in a High Court challenge.
The Labor Opposition said it would not support the laws but wanted to work with Tasmania’s Resources Minister Guy Barnett to draw up an alternative Bill.
The Opposition was concerned that the laws were poorly targeted and risked criminalising every Tasmanian protesting on any issue.
It was a claim dismissed by the Government.
“The Labor party has gone out of their way to spread misinformation about this Bill,” Mr Barnett said.
“They said its anti-protest – it’s not. It is anti-illegal invasions, threats and harassment.
“They said it’s anti-union – it’s not. Legal industrial action is exempt from this Bill.
“They say it’s anti-nurses and teachers – it’s not. The Act clearly excludes hospitals, schools and multiple locations,” Mr Barnett said.
“Our Government respects the right of every Tasmanian to protest peacefully and lawfully.
“Labor should be ashamed of themselves for siding with the Bob Brown Foundation and the anti-everything Greens and turning their back on Tasmanian workers, their families and businesses by voting against our Government’s workplace protection laws in the Upper House.
“This is the ultimate act of betrayal and a kick in the guts to the hard-working Tasmanians who are being threatened and harassed by radical protestors for simply going to work.”
Mr Barnett said Tasmanians deserved the right to go to work and earn a living for their family without interference from radical protesters.
“I am bitterly disappointed as our legislation would have ensured that Tasmanians can operate a business and go to work without being impeded, threatened or interfered with by others and it beggars belief that Labor did not support it,” Mr Barnett said.
Shadow Minister for Resources and Primary Industries, Shane Broad, said Labor had repeatedly condemned dangerous workplace invasions.
“Labor’s concerns about the Liberal Government’s protest laws are well known and long standing. They are poorly targeted and risk criminalising every Tasmanian protesting on any issue,” Dr Broad said.
“Labor has offered to work constructively with the Government to put in place laws that will actually protect workers. It is disappointing that Guy Barnett has instead been determined to play politics,” he said.
“The only people who win as a result of the Liberals’ political games are the Greens and the Bob Brown Foundation.”
