I have today written to both Hon Lara Giddings as Minister for Health and Hon Jim Cox as Minister for Police and Emergency Management to lobby for their support in tackling street violence in Tasmania. I challenge both Minister Giddings and Minister Cox to show some real leadership to help reduce this problem within our community.

Over the past few months I have been championing the benefits of campaigns such as the “One Punch Can Kill” campaign that started in Queensland and the “Step Back. Think” campaign that started in Victoria. These campaigns show the way forward in dealing with the problem that we face here in Tasmania.

Tasmania last year suffered nearly 90% more street assaults than Victoria and nearly 65% more street assaults than Queensland on a per capita basis, yet these two states are prepared to support pro-active campaigns targeting the culture of violence, and the Tasmanian Labor Government is seemingly not.

Our justice system deals with perpetrators after an act of violence has happened, but this is simply a reactive policy. We can’t expect the entire burden to lay on our Police force and Justice System. We need people to take responsibility for their own actions; and to achieve this we need a campaign aimed directly at impacting the culture of our community.

I ask both Minister Giddings and Minister Cox to read some of the stories that have been posted on my ‘Tassie for a One Punch Can Kill campaign’ facebook site or those that are on other websites such as Tasmanian Times. These are real people who have suffered or are suffering the real effects of violence in our community.

I have no doubt that a campaign, similar to the ‘One Punch Can Kill’ or ‘Step Back. Think’ campaigns, would have a real and sustained impact here in Tasmania. I call on Minister Giddings and Minister Cox to join me in turning this idea in to a reality – especially before the festive and summer silly season begins.

I have no doubt that a campaign, similar to the ‘One Punch Can Kill’ or ‘Step Back. Think’ campaigns, would have a real and sustained impact here in Tasmania. I call on Minister Giddings and Minister Cox to join me in turning this idea in to a reality.

Download:
stevenson20091002_Anti-violence_campaign_J_Cox.pdf
steve20091002_Anti-violence_campaign_L_Giddings.pdf
Matt Stevenson, Liberal Candidate for Denison