I am pleased that the Hodgman Liberal Government’s legislation to crack down on criminal groups using fortified buildings to conduct illegal activities has now passed the House of Assembly.
The new laws will give police greater powers to remove fortifications where they are deemed to be excessive for a premises and where the premises is reasonably believed to be connected with a specified offence, such as the production and distribution of illicit drugs such as ice.
Providing effective tools to Tasmania Police to disrupt organised criminal groups is critically important to the Tasmanian community and we are acting to ensure these groups do not become entrenched in the state.
Similar laws in Victoria have proven to be very effective. Our new laws will replace the fortification removal provisions contained within the Police Offences Act 1935 with a new standalone Act.
We make no apologies for being tough on crime and these laws will send the right message that criminal activity will not be tolerated in Tasmania.