[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Time for Anti-SLAPP Legislation in Tasmania_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

TASMANIA NEEDS PROTECTION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION LEGISLATION
 
As ACT Leads the Way With Greens' Bill

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today proposed legislation to protect the Tasmanian
community's right to participate in the public debate and called for the
government to engage in a debate of ideas on the issue.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP, who today tabled a motion calling for
in-principle support for anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation) legislation in Tasmania, said that the Australian Capital
Territory Legislative Assembly had recently passed the Protection of
Public Participation Bill 2008, which encourages public participation by
protecting the ACT community from civil proceedings designed to
discourage participation in public debate.

"The ACT Act is a result of Labor, Liberal and Greens MPs working
together to deliver an outcome for their community. It's a fantastic
example for the Tasmanian Parliament," Mr McKim said.

"PPP Legislation is in place in nearly half of the States in the US, and
it is time that Tasmania legislates to prevent legal action designed to
stifle public debate."

"The Greens have been suggesting this kind of legislation for Tasmania
since 2005, but the Labor government has failed, and continues to fail,
to engage in the debate of ideas around this issue."





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