George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, it would be. On this definition both would do. A series of acts could constitute harassment or a single act might constitute harassment as well. It all depends on the facts of the particular case.

As I have already agreed with you and with Senator Bernardi, the most normal use of the word harassment does contemplate a series of acts but, as I said before, there is some authority both in the dictionaries and in the case law to suggest that a single act might do. So, the purpose of this amendment is merely to get rid of the ambiguity and make it clear that a single act could constitute harassment or a series of acts could constitute harassment, depending on the facts of the particular case.

The CHAIR: The question is that amendment (1) on sheet HV208 be agreed to.