People who assault frontline health and emergency services workers are to face tough new penalties, including up to 14 years in jail, under laws that came into force last week.
Welcoming the commencement of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill 2022, Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new offences would better protect a range of key frontline workers who committed their working lives to keeping the community safe.
Mr Perrottet said this would include firefighters, paramedics, hospital medical and security staff, State Emergency Service workers, surf life savers, marine rescue volunteers and pharmacists and their staff.
Minister for Police, Paul Toole said the new offences carried the same penalties as those for assaults on police officers and correctional officers.
“This law sends a clear message that assaults and acts of violence against frontline health and emergency service workers are reprehensible and will not be tolerated,” Mr Toole said.
“This law also clarifies and provides consistency in the coverage of existing laws for assaulting, hindering or resisting emergency services workers including police officers and correctional officers.”
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the new legislation was part of the State’s response to the NSW Sentencing Council’s July 2021 report Assaults on Emergency Services Workers.
Mr Speakman said Government supported all of the Sentencing Council’s recommendations in full or in principle and in the legislation had “gone further in one critical respect”.
“The NSW Government has ensured that firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, pharmacy staff, community health workers and NSW State Emergency Service frontline workers are covered by the new offences, in recognition of the significant work they do for our community,” Mr Speakman said.
He said the new offences ranged from up to 12 months in prison and/or a $2,200 fine, to a maximum 14 years’ jail for the worst offenders.
