A FORMER Warrnambool magistrate believes concerned parents and school teachers should be allowed access to information about registered sex offenders.
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Jim Hanrahan said a proposal by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy to make information about sex offenders more accessible was “definitely worth considering”.
“As long as you balance the privacy of the individual with the public good, I think it is worth considering,” Mr Hanrahan said.
The proposed change to the register would allow members of the public to request access to information about serious sex offenders who reside in the area they live. Information would be provided about serious sex offenders.
Members of the public with genuine reasons can also request access to specific information on whether specific individuals are listed on the register.
In addition to this, photographs and personal details of serious sex offenders who have failed to comply with their reporting obligations would be published and available to any member of the public.
Mr Guy said the policy would protect Victorians from the worst of the worst.
“Victorians deserve to know if they have a high risk serial offender living in their street,” Mr Guy said.
“Mums and dads have enough to worry about with cost of living and jobs pressures without the added worry of whether their kids are safe in their own neighbourhood.”
The state opposition’s police spokesman Edward O’Donohue said the policy would make sure the rights of innocent Victorians were more important than the rights of the worst of the worst sex offenders.
“Current laws prevent convicted paedophiles from travelling overseas and preying on children in other countries so it’s only common sense to have a level of protection locally.”
However, Mr Hanrahan said he did not support some of Mr Guy’s proposals, including mandatory sentences for crimes such as assault.
He said mandatory sentences were not appropriate in all cases.
