Brodie's Law

In previously blogs I have discussed personal stories, problems in the workplace, and how bullying can impact childern's futures. You could be asking yourself during all of these discussions what is the government doing about this? Aren’t there laws against bullying? Are there punishments for these criminal like actions?

On May 30, 2011 Brodie’s Law against bullying was passed in the Upper House. This law states that if a person is convicted of bullying they could be sent to prison up to 10 years.

The changes made to stalking laws will change workplace and cyber bullying punishment to Crimes Act provisions already governing stalking. However, children who use social networks like Facebook, Myspace and MSN to threaten or harass could be caught up in this change, although any children under the age of 10 cannot be brought before a criminal court.

Nineteen year old, Brodie Panlock was a waitress at the local Hawthorn café. In September of 2006, she jumped to her death from a building after being bullied at her workplace. If was later discovered that  co-workers abused her, spat on her, poured beer over her and held her down while she was doused in cooking oil. Brodie first attempted suicide by taking rat poison after being rejected by Smallwood whom she’d had a intimate relationship with.  

Damian and Rae have been trying for several years to change this law. "It's a good day but it's not the end it's the beginning," Damian said after seeing Brodie’s law passed. He commented that this was a good day but there is still much more to be done.

I have been reading several of these inspiring stories and I just praise God that he has created such strong willed people like Brodie’s family as well as Megan’s. These families have lost so much but at the same time are slowly but steadily over coming mountains.