Today, we are introducing consorting legislation to continue to crack down on serious and organised crime in Tasmania and keep the community safe.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has a tough on crime approach and we are committed to keeping our state safe and making Tasmanians’ lives better.
That’s why we are delivering on our commitment to ensure that Tasmania Police have the tools they need to combat organised crime.
We are introducing new laws to replace the current offence of consorting contained in the Police Offences Act 1935, with a more contemporary offence that aligns with legislation in other jurisdictions.
This Bill repeals the 1935 offence and creates a new consorting offence to prevent serious criminal activity by deterring convicted offenders from establishing, maintaining and expanding criminal networks.
It includes a number of legislated definitions, a preliminary warning system, and a judicial review mechanism. The new offence prohibits a convicted offender from habitually consorting with another convicted offender, within five years of having been given an official warning notice about consorting with the other convicted offender.
Updated Consorting laws exist in every Australian state, as well as in the Northern Territory.
We call on the Labor Party and the Greens to stand with us and fight against serious and organised crime and support this bill. It is high time Labor lost its soft on crime approach and listened to the advice of Tasmania Police and the Police Association of Tasmania.
