EDO welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Police Offences Amendment (Workplace Protection) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’). Having previously provided detailed comments on the draft Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2021, EDO strongly supports the proposal to repeal the flawed and unconstitutional Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Act 2014 (Tas). However, EDO considers that the proposals to both widen the ambit of public nuisance and trespass offences and create aggravated penalties for the obstruction of businesses through amendments to the Police Offences Act 1935 (Tas) introduced by the Bill are unwarranted. If passed, this Bill has the potential to significantly infringe on the right to protest in this state and therefore on our democracy.
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Authorised by David Morris, Environmental Defenders Office Ltd, Suite 8.02 Level 8, 6 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000 • ABN: 72 002 880 864
Postal Address:
PO Box R1105 Royal Exchange NSW 1225
EDO recognises the traditional owners and custodians of the land, seas and rivers of Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present, and aspire to learn from traditional knowledge and customs so that, together, we can protect our environment and cultural heritage through law.