Registered Victorian sex offenders successfully applying to suspend reporting conditions despite police objections

Despite vehement opposition by Victoria Police, multiple registered sex offenders have successfully applied to suspend their lifelong reporting conditions.

Convicted sex offenders are winning the right to live next door to Victorian schools and avoid ongoing police monitoring.

The Herald Sun can reveal registered sex offenders are making successful applications for the first time to end lifelong reporting conditions.

It means police are no longer able to track their movements for the purpose of public safety.

Under state sex offender registration laws, offenders can apply to have reporting obligations suspended for life as long as 15 years have passed since their sentencing or release from custody, the court is satisfied they pose no or low risk to the community, and that it is in the public interest.

Police are no longer able to track the movements of some sex offenders. Picture: iStock

The first application of its kind was decided by the Supreme Court in May last year, with another four cases heard by the court since.

All were successful despite vehement opposition by police in some cases.

It means the sex offenders no longer need to notify police of a change of address, telephone numbers, email addresses or social media accounts.

They are also not required to notify police of any children they have contact with, disclose their employment or employer, or associations with any clubs that have child membership.

Critically, they can also travel freely without stringent police reporting requirements.

The recent cases include a foster carer who raped a 15-year-old in his care but successfully argued ongoing reporting conditions had become onerous.

The man, known as GT, argued he wanted to travel freely interstate to visit his ageing parents, and honeymoon overseas with a new partner.

Justice James Elliott said while GT’s offending was serious, it was in the public interest to ease his reporting obligations.

“The difference in age between GT and the victim is significant, and the fact that his offending occurred while the then 15-year-old victim was in foster care, and under the trust and care of GT (who was 36 years old at the time of his offending), is of particular concern,” he said.

“Those responsible for the care of vulnerable children must understand that there will be no tolerance for abuse of children in such a situation.

“However, the suspension of reporting obligations is not inconsistent with such an attitude.

“GT, who is now 56 years old, has demonstrated a sustained determination to rehabilitate and successfully reintegrate as a member of society.

“He remains extremely remorseful and ashamed of his offending.

“Without in any way diminishing the seriousness of GT’s offending, it must be acknowledged that his criminal record is otherwise limited and he has not been found guilty of any other sexual offending.”

Longtime anti-pedophile campaigner, Derryn Hinch, said he wasn’t in favour of any weakening of the sex offenders register.

“There’s enough loopholes in our register laws as there is,” he said.

Derryn Hinch says he is not in favour of weakening of the sex offenders register.

“I have always said, when you rape a child, you lose some of your civil rights.

“If it’s inconvenient to keep appearing before the police, well sorry, you did the crime.

“This just makes it so much harder to track or monitor offenders.”

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the ability to suspend reporting obligations was an “absolute disgrace.”

“The community expects that convicted sex offenders – especially those who target children – are closely monitored, not quietly let off the hook,” he said.

“The fact that a convicted rapist of a 15-year-old in care can now live near a school or interact with children without telling police is beyond belief.

“Victorians deserve to know their kids are safe. These reporting requirements exist for a reason, and scrapping them puts communities at risk.

Brad Battin says the suspension of reporting obligations is a disgrace. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“A government I lead will make no apology for putting community safety first and will ensure this does not occur.”

Applicants who successfully suspend their reporting obligations remain registered sex offenders but are harder to track and monitor. Last year 495 offenders were added to the register, taking the total number of offenders to 10,655 with almost half living in Victoria. Of those, more than 3500 are subject to reporting conditions for life.

A government spokesman said decisions about reporting obligations were made independently by courts.

“We recognise the profound impact these decisions made independently by courts can have on victims and the concern it can cause in the community,” he said.

“The Victorian government has no role in these decisions. Conditions of an offender’s supervision or reporting are determined by the court.”

Originally published as Registered Victorian sex offenders successfully applying to suspend reporting conditions despite police objections