Cabinet Endorses Tougher Sex Offender Measures

The Queensland Government has further tightened the restrictions on dangerous sex offenders, including paedophiles, under a range of measures endorsed by State Cabinet today.

Premier Anna Bligh said Cabinet has approved Australia’s toughest laws and policies to crack down on unrepentant paedophiles and has ordered an urgent overhaul of how all dangerous sex offenders are managed.

Police and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence presented two separate initiatives to Cabinet, both focused on further tightening the management of sex offenders.

The first is new legislation, planned for introduction into State Parliament this week, to clamp down on child sex offenders who have been released from jail but continue to display suspicious behaviour. The Child Protection (Offender Prohibition Order) Bill will:

• Give police the power to act if they are concerned about the behaviour of any sex offender who has served their prison time and been released into the community.

• Allow police to ask magistrates for an order banning paedophiles going within 200m of places such as parks, playgrounds, childcare centres, movie theatres, video arcades, theme parks and swimming pools,

• Permit police to also seek restrictions on offenders entering shopping centres at times when schoolchildren could be there, such as before and after school, or joining any club where they could come into contact with children.

• Permit police to tailor the conditions of the order to suit the risk posed by the offender.
The second initiative is a review of the Dangerous Prisoners Sexual Offenders Act, which will include:

• Handing control of housing for released sex offenders to the Department of Corrective Services, rather than the courts.

• Empowering the Department to make decisions about the type and level of treatment provided to sex offenders.

Ms Bligh said the reforms will mean that Queensland has the toughest legislation in the country.

"However, this is an emerging area of law and we will be constantly reviewing it to ensure that we remain at the forefront of advances that will protect the community."

“I make no apology for these tough laws. They ensure that the safety of our children is paramount.”

Ms Spence said the new child protection powers would be triggered when an offender displayed conduct of concern to police, even if no actual crime had been committed. Once an order is obtained, the offender would face a two-year jail term for any breach.

Under the second initiative, the review of the Dangerous Prisoners Sexual Offenders Act, the Government will consider a range of tough measures.

“We will mandate standard conditions in relation to accommodation and treatment that is provided for these people,” Ms Spence said.

“Corrective Services will take over these responsibilities from the courts.

“These will mean building more houses on prison precincts, such as Wacol in Brisbane, to accommodate dangerous sex offenders before any transition into the general community.

“We will also look at controlled and confidential disclosures to neighbours before the arrival of any dangerous sex offender,” she said..

Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office 3239 6218