28th Jun 2018, 12:13 PM – Senate Motions - Prevention of Violence Against Women - Pepper spray, mace and tasers

The majority voted against a motion encouraging state government to "to legalise and actively promote the carrying of pepper spray, mace and tasers by women". This means the motion failed.

It was introduced by Senator Fraser Anning (Qld).

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the recent spate of horrific violent crimes against women,

(ii) that the first duty of government is to ensure that its innocent citizens are protected from harm,

(iii) that police cannot be everywhere at all times, so in order to ensure citizens are protected from harm, all citizens must have the absolute right to self-defence,

(iv) that the ability of individuals to defend themselves varies with the strength, age, fitness and skill of the individual, with women and the elderly generally more vulnerable,

(v) that vulnerable people need some form of defence against violent individuals of superior strength,

(vi) the non-lethal nature of pepper spray, mace and tasers and the fact that prior training or skill is not required to use them for self-defence, and

(vii) the ease, affordability and convenience of pepper spray, mace and tasers as a means of self-defence by women;

(b) accepts that access to a means of self-protection by women in particular would provide greatly increased security and confidence that they will not become just another assault, rape or murder statistic; and

(c) calls on the Australian Government:

(i) to allow the importation of pepper spray, mace and tasers for individual self-defence, and

(ii) to encourage state governments to legalise and actively promote the carrying of pepper spray, mace and tasers by women for political protection.