New bill seeks a minimum of six-month jail time for offenders
The Tasmanian government will introduce to Parliament this week a new bill that seeks to impose a minimum six-month prison sentence for those who will seriously injure frontline workers in the state.
The Sentencing Amendment (Presumptive Sentencing for Assaults on Frontline Workers) Bill 2024 aims to provide for a presumption of minimum sentencing for individuals who would cause serious bodily harm to the following frontline workers:
- Child safety officers
- Correctional services officers
- Emergency services officers, like firefighters
- A health and safety officer
- A public officer
- A retail or hospitality worker
- A security officer, like those at licensed venues
- A transport worker
"Anyone who assaults our frontline workers – be it child safety officers, our correctional services officers, our firies, our security guards, our health workers, and more – will feel the full force of the law if they seriously assault or harm a worker," said Guy Barnett, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, in a statement.
The bill's introduction to Parliament this week follows the conclusion of the government's consultation of the draft legislation in February.
Protecting frontline workers
Tasmania joins the growing number of states, such as New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria, that want tougher penalties on individuals assaulting frontline workers.
It comes as more than 92% of employees in the retail sector alone have experienced or have had a team member experience verbal or physical assault while at work, according to findings from the Australian Retailers Association.
"I cannot be any clearer, it is totally unacceptable for Tasmanians, who are just trying to go about their business, while they work to be seriously assaulted or harmed," Barnett said.
