Tasmania’s Greens think begging should be decriminalised and say removing the current fines and possible prison sentences will ‘improve the situations’ for those facing homelessness and poverty.
Leader Rosalie Woodruff plans to introduce a bill to Parliament next week that will change the “outdated and unfair” law.
“With the cost of living crisis deepening, more and more Tasmanians are being pushed into extreme poverty and forced to resort to begging just so they can pay for a meal,” Woodruff says.
“This is a terrible situation, but it’s made worse by the fact that under current laws people in such hardship can be spent to jail or cop a hefty fine.”
The current law allows beggars to be fined up to $700 or face up to 6 months in prison.
“The law to make begging a criminal offence was enacted nearly 100 years ago, in the days of the Great Depression.”
“It has no place in a compassionate and modern Tasmania.”
The government previously attempted to change the law in 2019 but the bill was amended in the upper house, who wanted to remove certain powers that then-Police Minister thought were needed to protect small businesses from being bothered by beggars.
It was never brought back to the House of Assembly for debate.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff blamed Labor for the bill’s failure, but expressed the government’s continued interest in decriminalising begging.
“We tried, we didn’t quite get there last time, but I’m sure we will.”
Those opposed to changing the law believe that decriminalisation may compromise police powers to protect businesses from harassment and the ability to ‘move people on’.
