An inquiry report into the capability of Australia’s law enforcement agencies to tackle the growing scourge of child exploitation has been tabled in parliament by Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien.
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Deputy Chair, Mr O’Brien, was joined by fellow Committee member the Hon Jason Wood MP, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs and Member for La Trobe in congratulating the Joint Committee members and secretariat on their diligence in producing a comprehensive report containing fifteen worthwhile recommendations for safeguarding the nation’s children.
The ‘Law Enforcement Capabilities in Relation to Child Exploitation Report’ addresses critical aspects of child exploitation and offers invaluable insights and recommendations to enhance law enforcement capabilities in this crucial area.
The Coalition dissenting report recommends bringing in a national disclosure scheme of child sex offenders which aims to mitigate the real risks posed by repeat offenders, as highlighted in research published by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Mr Wood firmly believes that the proposed National Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is a crucial step towards addressing this alarming issue and ensuring the safety and well-being of our children.
“A disclosure scheme is an important initiative which aims to mitigate the real risks posed by recidivist offenders, as evidenced in world-leading research conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC)”, Mr Wood said.
Recent AIC studies, including a 2021 examination of data from New South Wales authorities, underscore the urgency of addressing recidivism in child sex offenders.
Shockingly, seven per cent of child sex offenders in New South Wales went on to commit further sexual offences within a decade of their initial police proceeding for a child sexual offence.
A broader study, encompassing data from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, revealed that most incidents involving recidivist offenders occurred within the offender’s known circles, often involving acquaintances or relatives.
Notably, the mean age of victims in recidivist child sexual assault cases ranged from 10.6 to 11.4 years across the four jurisdictions. Equally concerning is the finding that almost all alleged offenders within the sample perpetrated offenses against new victims, highlighting the urgent need for measures that go beyond current preventative strategies.
As such, the coalition members put forward and supported dissenting comments in the report, emphasising the imperative nature of implementing comprehensive measures to protect our communities.
“A National Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme would send a clear message that we will not tolerate individuals who prey on children,” Mr. Wood said.
“No parent should be kept in the dark about who has access to their children.”
Mr O’Brien and Mr Wood thanked the stakeholders who supplied evidence to the Committee to help it form its report and reaffirmed their commitment to working collaboratively with all parliamentary members to prioritise the safety of our children and address the pressing issues outlines in the report.
