Joint release with Senator The Hon Eric Abetz: Chloe’s Law - Say “NO” to Bullying

Senator Abetz has today received a petition signed by almost 49,000 people on behalf of the friends and family of Tasmanian teenage bullying victim Chloe Fergusson.

Almost 12 months ago after enduring almost eight years of relentless physical, verbal, mental and cyber bullying, Chloe tragically took her own life.

The petition is the result of a campaign started by Chloe’s sister Cassie Whitehill calling for stricter anti-bullying laws.

Over 271,000 people have joined an online community supporting law reform into bullying and cyberbullying in particular. 

“The Government is extremely concerned about all forms of bullying whether it’s workplace bullying, cyberbullying or any other kind of bullying,” Senator Abetz said.

“However all of us have an individual responsibility not to engage in such activity personally and to unequivocally express our disgust at those who do.”

“Cyberbullying is a modern community scourge and I will be doing everything I can on behalf of Chloe and the thousands of other Australians that have been affected by this most heinous of acts to see that this issue is addressed,” Senator Abetz said.

Paul Fletcher MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, is due to meet Chloe’s sister at an event in Hobart marking one year since Chloe’s passing.

“No Australian child or teenager should have to go through what Chloe experienced,” Mr Fletcher said. “Cyber bullying is a serious and growing problem. Recent research commissioned by the Government revealed that as many as one in five Australian children are victims of cyber bullying.”

“The Coalition took to the 2013 election a detailed policy to enhance online safety for children,” Mr Fletcher said. “We are committed to appoint a Children’s e-Safety Commissioner to take a national leadership role in online safety for children, and we are working on implementing this and other measures contained in our policy.”