Release Date: 11/07/2014
The government’s illegal protest legislation has support of Tasmania peak industry body, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The TCCI joins other major organisations such as TFGA, Forestry Industries Associations and the Minerals and Energy Council, in publicly supporting the Workplaces (Protections Protestors) Bill due to be debated by the Legislative Council next month.
Announcing the chamber’s today, CEO, Michael Bailey, said the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported the philosophy of Bill, which did not seek to prohibit the right to peaceful protest.
“The Bill targets illegal protestors who trespass and hinder, obstruct, or prevent business activity. Preventing business activity, whether it be business big and small, non for profit organisation and a range of industry sectors including agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, mining and transport.
“Business is owned by people and their employees are Tasmanian workers and they become innocent victims in the illegal protests because they are unable to fulfil their work duties and in many cases, there is a negative financial effect.
“When activists trespass and chain themselves to furniture inside a furniture store, or handcuff themselves to machinery and the axles of a truck, it’s an attack on family incomes as well as putting a raft of other people at physical risk as they attempt to move the activists.
Mr Bailey said it was disappointing that illegal protesting had denigrated to a level in Tasmania that necessitated such a Bill which the Liberals took to the last election as part of their major policy promises.
For further information please contact Michael Bailey on 0437 322 338.