Bartlett law reform agenda welcomed / Childs' bashing highlights need for anti-hate law

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 24.2.11

Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed the progressive law reform agenda announced yesterday by new state Attorney-General, David Bartlett, but say it must also include laws against hate crime.

The call follows the bashing in Hobart on Sunday of celebrity musician and X-factor winner, Altiyan Childs, who was taunted by his bashers as a "dirty faggot".

"Mr Bartlett is to be applauded for proposing reform in areas like surrogacy and anti-discrimination, but the Government must also clamp down on hate-crime with tougher criminal penalties."

"Attacks motivated by hatred are too common and too vicious to be dismissed as random loutishness."

The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute is currently conducting an inquiry into laws against racial hatred which Mr Croome said must be extended to take in other forms of hate crime.

For more on the Altiyan Childs bashing see:
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/02/24/209491_tasmania-news.html

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.