A Bill to Repeal Electronic Communication Abuse Offences (Repeal) Act 2020 referred to Standing Committee on Legislation.

This morning,Government Bill, the Electronic Communication Abuse Offences (Repeal) Bill 2024, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The primary objective of the Bill is to repeal the Electronic Communication Abuse Offences (Repeal) Act 2020.

This repeal is part of a consequential amendment to the Computer Crimes Bill 2024, which is currently under consideration in the Legislative Assembly.

The Electronic Communication Abuse Offences Act 2020 was originally enacted to address urgent concerns about abusive and harmful comments posted on social media and other electronic communication platforms. It stemmed from Section 18 of the Computer Crimes Bill 2020. However, it has always been the Government’s intention that the repeal of this Act would accompany the submission of the Computer Crimes Bill to the Legislative Assembly.

Members of Parliament were informed that, with the Computer Crimes Bill 2024 now before the Assembly, it is the appropriate time to repeal the Electronic Communication Abuse Offences Act 2020. This is because the Computer Crimes Bill 2024 already addresses offences related to electronic communication, including those involving harassment, menace, and harm caused through electronic means.

As both pieces of legislation address the same issues, it is unnecessary to maintain separate laws for identical offences.

The Government Bill has now been referred by the Lord Speaker to the Legislation Standing Committee for further review and scrutiny