The Police Offences Amendment (Increased Penalties for Damage to Tasmanian War Memorials) Bill 2026 has passed the Tasmanian Parliament, delivering tougher protections for our State’s war memorials.
Responding to a recent spate of vandalism, Liberal Member for Bass, Michael Ferguson, said the new laws were the most comprehensive in the country.
“The vandalism of the St Helens Cenotaph earlier this year was deeply distressing for the community and for many veterans across the State,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The damage is much more than property crime. It is an affront to the memory of those who served and sacrificed and is an insult to the whole community.
“On the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, the passage of this legislation sends a clear message that we will not tolerate vandalism of the memorials that honour our veterans.
“The legislation increases the maximum penalties for interfering with a war memorial to 500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and introduces a mandatory minimum fine of 25 penalty units.
“This Bill also ensures that those responsible can be required to pay for the damage they cause and allows courts to require offenders to perform community service in the community where the offence occurred.
“I want to particularly thank RSL Tasmania for their engagement and support, as well as Clair Norton from the St Helens RSL Sub-Branch for her advocacy.
“Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we’re continuing to support our veterans.”
John Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of RSL Tasmania said the Bill would send a clear message that the desecration of war memorials would not be tolerated in Tasmania.
“Our cenotaphs and war memorials are sacred places of remembrance. They carry the names of Tasmanians who left their families, towns and communities to serve our nation, including many who never returned home,” Mr Hardy said.
“When we protect these memorials, we are not simply protecting stone and bronze. We are protecting the memory of those who served, the sacrifice of their families, and an important part of the history and identity of the communities they called home.
“This Bill sends a clear message to Tasmanians that our war memorials matter. The people they commemorate matter. Their service and sacrifice matter. And Tasmania will protect the places where we remember them.”
