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PAROLED pedophiles from New South Wales have been banned from moving to Queensland in a deepening row over the transfer of prisoners between states. Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence revealed she had implemented the freeze in retaliation for a similar move by the NSW Government. "Queensland will not accept any further transfers of sex offenders from NSW until this matter is resolved," she said. The row over sex-offender transfers was sparked by community outrage at a West Australian pedophile's move to the Tweed coast of NSW. NSW Premier Morris Iemma pledged to "toss out" interstate sex offenders but it has been revealed his state sends out twice as many pedophiles as it receives. Queensland is supervising nine paroled sex offenders from interstate – six from NSW and one each from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Despite the ban on NSW sex offenders, pedophiles from other states will be allowed to move to Queensland. Child-protection campaigner Hetty Johnston and the Queensland Opposition have called on the Government to extend the ban to all interstate pedophiles on parole. Ms Johnston said paroled sex offenders should remain in the states in which they were convicted to ensure they were monitored properly. "It is problematic for one state to nominate conditions and then expect another state to implement them," she said. "That person is more likely to re-offend." Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg raised concerns about "unrepentant pedophiles" who had not completed rehabilitation moving to Queensland. But Ms Spence said there were tough tests for paroled child-sex offenders wanting to move to Queensland, with four refused since late last year. Corrective Services staff took into account community safety, details of the offence, recent criminal history, current risk level and support availability. Ms Spence would not provide any details about interstate offenders living in Queensland. Four Queensland parolees have been transferred interstate. Ms Spence also provided details on the National Child Sex Offender Register for the first time, revealing 355 were being tracked in Queensland. Other states have registered substantially more offenders, with NSW monitoring 1900. "Police expect this number of registered offenders will continue to grow as offenders are released from prison or are identified in new cases," Ms Spence said. She also revealed seven Queensland offenders had been charged with breaching reporting conditions, evidence "the register is working". Two have each been fined more than $600, while the others are yet to face court. The register was introduced this year and requires offenders to inform police of address changes, employment and car registration. Offenders who fail to report or who lie face up to two years' jail and a fine of more than $11,000. Ms Spence sent a letter to her interstate counterparts on Friday calling for transfers to be debated at the next Corrective Services Administrators' Conference in November. Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence says her state won't allow any further transfers of sex offenders from NSW until the matter is resolved. Earlier this month, NSW Premier Morris Iemma said New South Wales wouldn't be a dumping ground for pedophiles. The comment followed a public outcry over the relocation of pedophile Otto Darcy-Searle from Western Australia to Banora Point in northern NSW. He'd served less than half of an 11-year sentence for more than 100 child sex offences in WA – and was forced back there by community anger at Banora Point. Ms Spence, who chairs the Corrective Services Ministers' Conference, says Queensland is supervising nine paroled sex offenders from interstate, including six from NSW. She says pedophiles from other states will still be allowed in. A spokesman for Mr Iemma said Queensland had a right to make a similar decision to NSW on the issue of paroled paedophiles. "New South Wales has taken a policy position, and we respect the rights of other states to arrive at the same position we have ... and New South Wales will manage the consequences of that within our existing system," the spokesman said. "We have a strong and tough parole system here and we will manage any outcomes as a result of any other state taking a similar decision in accordance with the existing system." The Sunday Mail (28-8-2005) David Murray |
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