On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I warmly welcome the passage of our bill to decriminalise begging through the House of Assembly.
Today is a milestone moment in a years-long campaign for reform from the community sector, lawyers, advocates and caring Tasmanians.
Begging was made a crime in 1935 during the Great Depression. It has no place to still be criminalised in a modern and empathetic Tasmania.
Begging is a last resort for those who have no other choice. The Greens have tried for years to pass these laws because it should not be a crime to ask for help.
Having our bill pass the lower house is a milestone moment, and the Greens thank all our parliamentary colleagues for their support.
We also want to extend our most sincere gratitude to all those advocates and organisations who have voiced their strong support for the bill. They are the people who see the human impact of criminalising poverty every day.
We look forward to bringing on the Bill for debate in the Legislative Council, and this crime being removed from the statutes for good.
