Improving protection for our war memorials

The Tasmanian Government is strengthening protections for the State’s war memorials, with the introduction of the Police Offences Amendment (Increased Penalties for Damage to Tasmanian War Memorials) Bill 2026 in the House of Assembly.

Liberal Member for Bass, Michael Ferguson, said the Bill responds directly to community concern following the recent vandalism of the St Helens Cenotaph.

“War memorials are places of remembrance, honouring the sacrifice of Tasmanians who served our nation,” Mr Ferguson said.

“They hold deep meaning for local communities and the veterans whose service they commemorate.

“This Bill increases the maximum penalties for interfering with a war memorial and introduces a mandatory minimum fine.

“Too often communities, councils or RSL sub-branches are left covering the cost of repairs after acts of vandalism.

“This Bill ensures that those responsible are required to pay for the damage they cause.”

The legislation also allows courts to require offenders to perform community service in the community where the offence occurred.

“This helps ensure offenders give something back to the community whose shared respect for its war dead and veterans has been insulted by the vandalism of a memorial,” Mr Ferguson said.

“We are delivering for Tasmania by sending a clear message that we will not tolerate vandalism of the memorials that honour our veterans.”