Messenger will push sex offenders underground

Sex offenders living in Queensland would go underground if Rob Messenger’s idea to publish where sex offenders lived was ever introduced, Minister for Police and Corrective Services Judy Spence said today.

“Rob Messenger’s ill-conceived plan, which has been categorically panned by experts as a bad idea, would only push sex offenders underground and would encourage them to flee.” Ms Spence said.

“Child protection group Bravehearts does not advocate for a public register of sex offenders. In their recent position paper entitled, “Community Notification of Sex Offenders”, Bravehearts states, “Community notification laws are the least best option in terms of effectively protecting the community.

“As well, Professor Bill Marshall, one of the world’s leading experts of child sex offenders does not support it either, as identifying sex offenders publicly only drives them underground.” Ms Spence said.

“The government’s view has always been that dangerous sex offenders should remain in prison if we determine they are still a danger to society.

“However, the Supreme Court often orders that these dangerous sex offenders have to be released. That is when we ask the court that supervision order be imposed on those offenders.” Ms Spence said

“This includes the use of electronic monitoring so offenders can be monitored to determine if they are breaking the strict conditions applied to their release.

“We are spending $9.2 million over four years to increase the supervision of sex offenders released by the Supreme Court into the community.

“The government is also spending $4.0 million over four years for the electronic monitoring of released sex offenders under the Dangerous Prisoners Sex Offenders Act,” Ms Spence said.

Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287