Victorian Government Considers Change to Laws Protecting Child Sex Offenders

The Australian
February 29, 2012

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/victorian-government-considers-change-to-laws-protecting-child-sex-offenders/story-fn3dxity-1226285243717

THE Victorian government will urgently consider repealing a law that protects the identities of child sex offenders.

An inquiry headed by former Supreme Court judge Philip Cummins has made 90 recommendations to government to reform the the state's child protection system.

One of the most controversial, supported by a majority of the inquiry panel, is to change the law allowing courts to suppress the names of child sex offenders.

Premier Ted Baillieu says the government will seek advice from police and other justice officials about the recommendation.

"The government will be urgently seeking advice to deal with this matter," he said.

"The interests of children will take priority and do take priority for this government."

Mr Baillieu's comments follow those made by Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge on radio earlier today that the rights of children had to be balanced with the rights of pedophiles to live in the community after having served their sentence.

"I said then and I say now ... the rights of a child are always paramount," she later told parliament.