Mandatory sentences to protect frontline workers

The Hodgman Government is delivering the next phase of our election commitment to legislate for mandatory minimum sentences for serious assaults on frontline workers.

Our frontline workers go above and beyond to protect and care for our community and it’s vital that the Government does the same for them.

Serious assaults on frontline workers are completely unacceptable and the Government will act to make this clear.

This week, we will release draft laws that, if passed by Parliament, would mean anyone who commits an offence resulting in serious bodily harm to a frontline worker will receive a mandatory minimum sentence of six months in jail.

Under the first phase of our reforms the Parliament passed a law in 2014 which introduced a new sentencing provision which specified a minimum mandatory sentence of six months for committing an offence causing serious bodily harm to a police officer. Since its introduction, no one has been sentenced on the basis of the new provision, suggesting the law has worked as an effective deterrent.

Consistent with our election commitment, the Government is now looking to extend these laws to cover correctional staff, ambulance officers, paramedics, nurses and midwives and child protection workers.

Frontline workers have a difficult job and have to deal with challenging and sometimes violent people. Like all members of our community, they have the right to work without being seriously assaulted.

The Government has made its commitment to protect frontline workers clear, and now it is time for the community to have their say, with the consultation period ending on 14 October 2016.

The draft bill can be found on the Justice website – www.justice.tas.gov.au

It is expected that proposed laws will be introduced into Parliament later this month.
Vanessa Goodwin, Attorney-General