Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Government respects the right of every Tasmanian to protest peacefully and lawfully but we are also committed to protecting Tasmanians' right to work.
Today, stakeholders from the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Tasmanian Small Business Council and Tasmanian Forest Products Association called on the Legislative Council to pass our Government's workplace protection laws when they are presented in the Upper House next Wednesday.
This legislation ensures Tasmanians can operate a business and go to work without being impeded, threatened or interfered with by others.
Our Workplace Protection Bill, which complements legislation already passed in the Federal Parliament and in most mainland states, where it received bi-partisan support, will deliver Tasmanian businesses, workers and their families protection against intentional trespass designed to deliberately impede business activity.
Unfortunately on a regular basis, Tasmanians are being threatened and harassed by radical protestors for simply going to work. Tasmanians deserve the right to go to work and earn a living for their family without interference from radical protesters.
Tasmanians are saying 'enough is enough'. They are fed up with the relentless interference by the Bob Brown Foundation, the radical extremist protest arm of the Greens. In recent days the BBF have blocked operations of a mine on Tasmania's west coast.
Our proposed laws are supported by farmers, foresters, miners, fishers and the business community as well as Tasmanian workers and families. It beggars belief that Labor would not support our legislation when it is debated in the upper house next week.
