The Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 (Tas) - passed and assented - amends Schedule 1 of the Criminal Code 1924 (Tas) to remove the crime of blasphemy.
The Bill amends s 12(1)(c) 'Prohibited language and behaviour' in the Police Offences Act 1935 by omitting “obscene, offensive, or blasphemous language” and substituting “obscene or offensive language”.
The accompanying note states .
Blasphemy provisions across Australia are not used (the last successful prosecution for blasphemy in Australia was in 1871) and the offence of blasphemy has already been abolished in Queensland and Western Australia.
At common law this crime only pertains to statements in relation to Christianity, which is out of step with a modern and diverse community. Discriminatory behaviour toward a person or group of persons on the grounds of religious belief and affiliation is prohibited by the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998.
