Page 2079 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 8 May 2012
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In the government’s view, this bill does just that. As has been foreshadowed, the government is proposing a number of amendments to this bill. The amendments have arisen following the introduction of the bill and are generally technical in nature. Broadly, these amendments will ensure that registrable offenders who are serving periodic detention when the bill commences are required to report under the child sex offender scheme, offenders who are serving periodic detention are advised of their new obligations to report under the scheme, protected information that is provided to prescribed entities and people with parental responsibility for a child at risk is kept secret, and the Chief Police Officer advises prescribed entities and people with parental responsibility for a child at risk of their obligation to keep protected information secret and of the offence that will apply if the protected information is divulged.
The most important government amendment is the inclusion of a new offence at section 132ZOA. This offence will apply to prescribed entities and people with parental responsibility for a child at risk where they are provided with protected information under the scheme. This information is provided by the Chief Police Officer where it is considered necessary to allow the prescribed entity and person with parental responsibility to identify the registered offender to ensure the safety of a child or children in their care.
The inclusion of an offence will ensure that the information is kept secret by the people who receive it, which is consistent with the normal way that such information is treated. The government amendments include an obligation upon the Chief Police Officer to advise the prescribed entity or person with parental responsibility of this offence when protected information is provided to them.
In closing, I note that this bill gives effect to the government’s commitment to protecting children. It is intended that these reforms will contribute to reducing the recidivism rates of convicted child sex offenders by targeting those offenders who engage in concerning conduct. The government considers that this measure is a proportionate and justified response to address the concerning behaviour of convicted child sex offenders. I thank members for their support of the bill and commend it to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (10.20), by leave: I move amendments Nos 1 to 6 circulated in my name together and I table a supplementary explanatory statement to the bill [see schedule 1 at page 2158].
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