Child sex abuse: Cairns mum exposes normalised child rape
Disturbing claims of institutionalised child-on-child sexual abuse has been revealed by a Cairns mum fighting for change after her nine-year-old son was raped by a 14-year-old perpetrator.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Claims of institutionalised child-on-child sexual abuse within Cairns has been exposed by a frustrated mother whose son was targeted by a 14-year-old repeat sex offender amid calls for law reform to better protect innocent victims.
A Manoora mum, whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of her 10-year-old son, claimed her boy had been raped during a 12-month period that ended late last year.
She has spoken out on the taboo subject she claims has become normalised in her area in heartfelt warning to other parents of young children.
“We knew something was going on but no one would talk. I posted a warning to my stories and it opened up a can of worms,” she said.
“All the kids know about it and have been kept to secrecy.
“Manoora is full of violence, and drugs, gambling, broken homes and abused kids broken on the inside, and they walk around worried or afraid they might get in trouble.
“I know it’s not my fault or my son’s fault. I am extremely worried about the kids out there.”
The mum said the alleged offender had been charged with sexual assault and property offences and was currently locked up pending his next court appearance.
She said the boy alleged to have assaulted her son had been living at a residential care house under the protection of the Department of Child Safety, where he perpetrated similar offences, but it’s claimed little was done to address his behaviour.
“My child’s abuse could have been prevented if police and Child Safety had done something about it then,” she said.
“The Smallbone report happened after that woman killed her kids (on Murray St) and after that they try to make it look like something is being done but nothing is being done.”
According to the 2020-21 Children’s Court annual report, victims of sexual assault and related offences accounted for 10.3 per cent of all offences against the person by child offenders. Within this offence group, victims aged between 10 and 14 years accounted for 44.6 per cent, and a further 25.1 per cent of victims were under 10 years of age.
Leveraging a new bill proposed by Attorney-General, Shannon Fentiman to remove legislation that prevents accused adult rapists from being publicly identified until their charges reach committal, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto believes law reform needs to go further.
He has advocated for child sex offenders to be publicly identified and protect potential victims.
“It makes my skin crawl to think unidentified alleged rapists are walking the streets while awaiting their court date, and their age should be irrelevant,” he said.
The Cairns mum said in her case law reform similar to what Mr Dametto has proposed could have made a difference.
“In my son’s case he needs to be named because he is a serial rapist, he knows what he is doing and he seems to have a certain type (of victim,)” she said.
The mum said her family now faces an anxious wait for the alleged offender’s next court appearance from the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre next month, and is desperate to leave the area before the boy is released.
Until then the mother is doing everything she can to help her son heal invisible scars he will have to live with for the rest of his life.
“I am trying to fix him, and we have come together as a family but the point is, there are kids that this is happening to and they are living with it every day,” she said.
“This is happening in Manoora and people don’t want to talk about it.
“And my son has been groomed so much that he partly does not think that anything is wrong.”
Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard responded to Mr Dametto’s call for law reform by stating courts can already authorise the naming of a young person, particularly violent offences and where the publication is in the public interest.
“While the vast majority of young people who come into contact with the youth justice system never offend again, for those who continue to offend, there must be consequences,” she said.
Queensland Police have been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Child sex abuse: Cairns mum exposes normalised child rape
Cyclone Alfred sparks coastal warnings
Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to pose a threat to Queensland’s coast, bringing hazardous winds, large waves, and coastal flooding risks despite being well offshore.
Father, nurse … killer? Who is Rajwinder Singh?
Rajwinder Singh is an Australian-trained nurse, a home-owner, an Indian national, and the owner of a ‘distinctive’ blue Alfa Romeo, one of only three of its kind registered in North Queensland, a jury has heard. He is now on trial for murdering Toyah Cordingley.