Toughest laws in the nation to target child sex offenders

Queensland will soon have the nation’s longest child sex offender monitoring periods under new legislation to be introduced this week.

The new laws will double the amount of time a first-time child sex offender is subject to police monitoring and reporting.

Under the new regime, the monitoring period for first-time offenders will be 10 years, compared with five years previously.

In addition, the monitoring period for repeat offenders will also double to 20 years, while the most serious child sex offenders will be monitored for life.

These important reforms will reverse the actions of the former Newman LNP Government that caused Queensland to overnight become the jurisdiction with the shortest monitoring periods for child sex offenders.

In 2014, the LNP Government amended legislation to significantly reduce the police reporting and monitoring periods for child sex offenders.

This meant the LNP reduced the monitoring period for many child sex offenders to just 5 years.

And as a consequence, the LNP’s law changes meant that overnight, the police oversight and monitoring ceased for more than 1,700 child sex offenders.

It is an enduring stain on the former LNP Government’s time in office.

In stark contrast, Police Minister Mark Ryan, said the Palaszczuk Government will always put community safety first.

“These reforms will establish the longest, strongest, most comprehensive monitoring laws in relation to child sex offenders in the nation,” Minister Ryan said.

“We are doubling the monitoring and reporting periods for child sex.

“This is by far the strongest monitoring regime in the nation.

“This is righting the shameful wrongs of the LNP’s past.

“Child sex offenders are among the most heinous of all, and they deserve to be subject to the longest, strongest and strictest monitoring and reporting regime in the nation.

“The community can be assured that in addition to these tough new laws, our world class police service, including the internationally acclaimed Taskforce Argos and the Queensland Police Service’s Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group are relentless in targeting those who do harm to the most vulnerable members of society.

“These new laws will continue to support the efforts of Queensland’s hard working police to keep Queensland children safe.”

Media contacts 
Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300