Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has hit out at Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s plan to review legislation under a one law in, one law out approach, calling it “inexplicably stupid” and “reckless”.
Rockliff’s proposal would require the government to scrap an existing law for every new one introduced, something Woodruff argues “can’t and won’t work”.
“Want to regulate a new technology or product? You have to deregulate another. Want to introduce a new elder abuse crime? Better legalise arson,” she told Parliament on Wednesday.
“It’s a fact that as society develops and gets more complex, a greater amount of legislation is required. This is a pathetic far-right virtue signalling on your part and we’re honestly embarrassed for you.”
“Will you put this reckless, radical rhetoric behind you and commit to approaching legislation like a sensible adult or will this Parliament have to spend the rest of the term supervising you like a babysitter?”
Rockliff hit back, saying the goal is to clean up outdated laws and cut unnecessary red tape while keeping essential protections in place.
“These types of questions are embarrassing,” he said.
“Why wouldn’t we look at the laws that are no longer applicable in 2025 and why wouldn’t we look at areas of regulation that are burdensome to business, small, medium or large.”
He assured that the “best possible laws” covering environmental protection, community welfare and public safety would remain.
“But there are other areas of regulation that are simply getting in people’s way and I hear it often,” he said.
“Surely as a local and state government we can work together on ensuring that there’s regulation there to protect consumers but also regulation that we can take away that is strangling business.”
Rockliff then turned the “radical and reckless” label back on the Greens and their support for activists who yesterday suspended themselves off the front of Parliament House.
“What about your endorsement of people climbing the roof of this heritage building yesterday? … [You] mentioned radical and reckless and that’s exactly what I would describe your mates climbing the roof,” he said.
“I was very disappointed to see endorsement of such actions which not only can cause damage to a heritage building but put their own safety at risk.”
