Jo Palmer, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
The Tasmanian Government will develop important new legislation to protect Tasmanians from image-based abuse, recognising the significant harm caused by these disturbing acts.
The reforms will focus on intimate image-based abuse, including what is commonly known as ‘revenge porn’ and the use of artificial intelligence to create ‘deepfakes’ of a victim.
The legislation will address covert tracking and digital surveillance, ensuring that our laws keep pace with the ways perpetrators misuse technology to control, intimidate and monitor victim-survivors.
The Strengthening Our Responses to Family Violence in Tasmania Discussion Paper received 69 submissions with specific feedback about the need to address emerging forms of abuse used by family violence perpetrators, including image-based abuse.
Minister for Women and Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Jo Palmer, said this is about prevention, protection, and long-term change.
“Across the country, we’ve seen a really concerning rise in reports of image-based abuse,” Minister Palmer said.
“Our Government is firmly committed to taking strong action on these abhorrent crimes.
“This work has been driven by the lived experience of victim-survivors, and I cannot thank them enough for their courage and bravery.
“Image-based abuse is a disgraceful breach of trust, privacy, and dignity.
“The long-term, devastating impacts this abuse can cause cannot be understated.
“We must ensure that if these fundamental rights are breached, offenders are held to account and victim-survivors are protected.”
Another key component of the reforms will be tackling the use of covert tracking and digital surveillance to coerce, intimidate, or harass.
The Government will continue to consult with key stakeholders over coming weeks, with a draft Bill to be released for public consultation by the end of the year.
