Strong Plan to crack down on crime

Jeremy Rockliff, Premier
Felix Ellis, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management

A re-elected majority Liberal Government will introduce a new law aimed at cracking down on criminals that “post and boast” on social media about their crime.

The Post and Boast Law is part of sweeping measures to boost Tasmania’s Police force as part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.

“There’s a new generation of criminals bragging about theft, assault, hooning and worse on social media platforms like TikTok and SnapChat and it’s disgusting,” Premier Rockliff said.

“They don’t care about their victims, they incite copy-cats, and they think they’re above the law. This has to stop, so we’re going to do everything we can to throw the book at them.

“We will introduce new laws that makes it a specific aggravating factor that a Court must take into account when sentencing offenders who post and boast about committing a crime on social media.

“This will enable Tasmania Police to use online posts as evidence to ensure offenders receive tougher sentences from the courts.

“We want to send a loud and clear message to the up and coming generation of criminals – you’re not going to keep getting away with it.

“We will also crack down on hooning, road rage and vehicle theft. We will introduce a new offence for road rage, double penalties for dangerous and reckless driving and motor vehicle stealing and make it easier for vehicles to be forfeited to the Crown or crushed.

“Tasmanians have every right to feel safe, and we are firmly putting the safety of Tasmanians before the interests of young criminals.”

The Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said the Post and Boast Laws and dangerous driving crack down followed a commitment to recruit an extra 60 police and set up a Strikeforce targeting youth crime and repeat offenders.

“We stand with our hard-working police, who sacrifice so much to keep Tasmanians safe,” Minister Ellis said.

“We want to do everything we can to give our police the tools they need to succeed, and ensure they are safe on the beat too, and that’s what our $60.5 million investment is all about.

“We will recruit an extra 60 police, introduce a new relief-pool, invest in new Emergency Services Hubs, deliver new laws to help catch criminals and invest in mental health too.

“While Labor cut police and stopped recruitment, the Liberals are committed to growing our police force, and protecting them just as they protect us.

“A re-elected majority Liberal Government will:

• Recruit 60 more police, taking police numbers to a record high of 1521 full-time Sworn Officers;

• Deploy a permanent Police Strikeforce to target serial criminals;

• Deliver a relief pool for frontline police to ensure safe staffing is maintained at our 24 hour stations;

• Introduce stronger penalties for hooning, road rage and vehicle theft;

• Introduce a new law that makes 'Boasting and Posting' about a crime an aggravating factor in sentencing;

• Protect children through implementation of the new Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme;

• Deliver ongoing funding for three Arch Centres supporting victim survivors of family and sexual violence;

• Build a new purpose-built Kingston Emergency Services Hub, a Wynyard Emergency Services Hub and a new Rosebery Emergency Services Hub;

• Provide support for Crimestoppers;

• Pilot a new Emergency Services Cadet Program; and

• Increase annual funding to $4 million per annum for our Health and Wellbeing Program for frontline emergency service personnel and volunteers.”

Cost: $60.5 million over four years, including $25 million in capital investment.