Offenders spitting on police in the current COVID-19 environment has sharpened the focus on tougher legislation to protect front-line workers to be debated in the ACT Assembly next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Crimes (Protection of Police, Firefighter and Paramedics) Amendment Bill 2019 was first tabled back in October last year and at the time sought to address the issues such as assaulting police, and deliberately driving at police.
Amendments to better protect frontline workers were first foreshadowed by the ACT Liberals and were then taken up by the government in a bipartisan approach, re-framing laws which better reflects the seriousness of assaulting frontline workers protecting and saving people's lives.
A survey of ACT police members last year found that 66 per cent reported they had been assaulted while on duty.
However, while the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has added yet another significant and potentially deadly threat for police and emergency workers, the police association fears that adding coughing and spitting to these specific amendments would further delay much-needed reforms.
"Police and emergency services workers have been waiting 12 years for these amendments, which finally brings the ACT in line with other jurisdictions," a police union spokesperson said.
"We don't want to risk this being delayed any further."
Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson has described spitting or coughing on police as "callous", an assault offence, and would not be tolerated.
"Coughing and spitting on someone is disgusting at all times, and in the COVID-19 environment there is additional risk to safety," he said.
"I don't understand how that seems to be okay these days, it is not.
"Police have laid charges and will continue to lay charges if such matters are seen. It's not a joke."
Police have been advised to wear personal protective equipment when dealing with people suspected to have COVID-19.
This week ACT Police Minister Mick Gentleman said that he would be happy to look at a "second or third tranche" of legislation which deals separately with the issue of spitting and coughing on police and other frontline workers.
READ MORE:
In New South Wales, new laws this month set fines up to $5000 on anyone who intentionally tries to spit or cough on health workers, police, pharmacists, paramedics or other public officials during the coronavirus pandemic. In Queensland, new on-the-spot fines of $1300 have been introduced for similar offences.