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Push for anti-bullying laws to go national

State and territory governments across Australia are being urged to follow Victoria's lead and introduce tough workplace anti-bullying laws.

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1 min read

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Updated

By Gareth Boreham

Source: SBS


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The push has intensified after a federal inquiry recommended a cross-border crackdown on abuse.

"Bullying can turn up in so many different places. Workplaces, schools, sporting clubs and cyber-bullying on the internet and that's a particularly pernicious form of abuse and one of the most important elements is to tell people that help is available," said Robert Clark, Attorney-General in the Victorian Parliament.

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A new campaign aims to sell the message that that sort of abuse won't be tolerated.

Brodie's Law was introduced into Victorian workplaces in June last year. It makes bullying a serious criminal offence, punishable by up to ten years' jail.

And now there's a push for the laws to go national.

A report by federal MPs tabled last week estimates worker abuse costs billions of dollars.

"More importantly than the economic cost, is the human cost," said Labor MP Bill Shorten.

While Coalition MPs issued a dissenting report, Bill Shorten says the parliamentary inquiry, which calls for an Australia-wide hotline for bullying victims, is the first step in developing national laws.


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