Draft legislation designed to address the serious problem of bullying will be released for public consultation today with Tasmanians urged to have their say.
The draft Criminal Code Amendment (Bullying) Bill 2019 draws on recommendations from the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and proposes that the current offence of stalking at section 192 of the Criminal Code be amended to capture serious bullying behaviours.
Bullying can occur in almost any social environment and can be perpetrated or experienced by a wide range of people.
Cyberbullying is a significant issue given rapidly changing technology and the widespread use of social media now gives online bullies 24 hour access to their victims.
Bullying has lasting effects on individuals and their families and can result in tragic personal consequences for victims such as long-term mental health impacts, psychological damage and self harm.
This proposed legislation criminalises certain, serious bullying behaviour such as those who use the internet with the intention to cause serious, physical or mental harm to others.
The draft Bill will be available for public consultation via the Department of Justice website.
The Hodgman Majority Liberal Government is confident this Bill will send a clear message that serious bullying behaviour, including cyberbullying, is not only unacceptable, it is a criminal act.
Further to this Bill, we are investing $3 million over four years to combat bullying and cyber bullying in all Tasmanian Government schools, and since 2014 we have employed over 63 support staff to provide more social and emotional support where needed.