Victim of Robert John Fardon in fear of his release
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has not ruled out making legislation changes to try to keep serial rapist Robert John Fardon under supervision, following community outcry — including one of his victims — over his forthcoming release.
Crime & Justice
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QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she wants to see what the legal advice suggests before committing to any legislation changes to try to keep serial rapist Robert John Fardon under supervision, but she did not rule out the move.
It comes as a woman raped at gunpoint as a 12-year-old by Queensland’s most notorious serial sex predator Robert John Fardon has spoken of her horror that he will soon be living unsupervised in the community.
And child safety advocates have called for Fardon’s eventual whereabouts to be made public, including Bruce Morcombe, who warned: “God help our children to be safe from people like him.”
“I have had a conversation with the Attorney-General. She is seeking urgent legal advice and I want the best legal advice from some of the best and brightest minds in Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“She has conveyed to me how serious this issue is and I have conveyed to how I believe how serious this is.
“Let’s get the advice first. We are not going to pre-empt that.”
But Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged the issue was serious.
Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath would not say if she would consider toughening up dangerous sex offender laws should there be no other legal avenues to pursue.
“I appreciate that the victims themselves feel very strongly. So does the broader community and certainly the Government about offenders like this being out in the community without supervision,” she said.
“Certainly the Government can appeal. I am seeking advice at the moment about the strength off any appeal going forward.
“I am very mindful that we have a very short window to take any further action because Robert John Fardon’s current supervision is due to expire in October.”
Ms D’Ath defended the current laws, insisting they were the strongest in the country.
She said her priority at the moment was getting legal advice on an appeal.
But the Attorney-General would not say if the legislation could be strengthened.
“The legislation we have in place has been tested by the High Court and is very comprehensive and has meant that Robert Fardon has not been in the community without supervision without extensive conditions attached to him for around a decade now,” she said.
“My priority right now is getting this advice in relation to an appeal … not in relation any particular legislation.
“Right now it is about getting that advice to see what we can do under the current legislation going forward.”
Fardon, now aged 69 and suffering from emphysema, has spent the past five years in supervised housing at Wacol after spending half his life in prisons for various rapes.
But a Supreme Court decision not to renew his supervision order has ended a years-long battle by the Queensland Government to keep him locked up, and he will be free in October.
“He has put me through hell for 40 years almost now, but more so the system has actually let us down. The system is absolutely disgusting,” said Sharon Tomlinson, who survived a horrific attack by Fardon as a girl.
“I am not living in fear of him for myself. I am living in fear for the community.
“What if he does get a little girl, or a little boy, or a disabled woman, or someone like that that he befriends?”
She said other survivors were also devastated.
“This is an evil, premeditated predator that is after the most vulnerable he can get … somebody who goes out there and destroys lives.”
Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston said there was no cure for serial violent sex offenders.
“Have we ever seen another offender before him who has been miraculously cured?” she said.
“There is no cure, there is only management.
“This is a horrendous risk to take with somebody’s child. Now we all have to be frightened.”
The application by Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath to renew Fardon’s order said a lack of supervision would “increase the risk that he will commit a serious sexual offence”.
The court disagreed after psychiatric experts deemed him a “low risk” of reoffending.
He will no longer be subject to curfews or restrictions on where he can live.
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the Attorney-General was exploring “every possible option” to ensure the right thing is done by the community, ahead of Fardon’s imminent release.
However the Minister earlier refused to say what those options are.
When asked whether the Government was confident Fardon would not reoffend, Ms Farmer said his release was a decision of the court.
“The Attorney-General is exploring every option,” she said.
“I think that the crimes Robert Fardon committed are despicable.
“This is a complex legal matter and I know that the Attorney-General is exploring every possible option to make sure that the right thing is done for the community.
“I can’t comment on those (options), that will need to be taken up with the Attorney-General.”
Fardon’s first sexual offence dates back to 1967, when, as an 18-year-old, he molested a girl under the age of 10.
In 1978, he raped 12-year-old Ms Tomlinson at gunpoint when she was a guest at his party. When her 15-year-old sister tried to save her, Fardon bashed her.
In 1988, 20 days after getting out, he raped and brutally bashed another woman.
In 2008, he was arrested and again charged with rape, which he was alleged to have carried out while subject to a supervision order.
He was convicted, but that was set aside on appeal.
Fardon was the first person kept in prison indefinitely under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
He was released under a supervised order, but continued to live on prison grounds when the government rejected every proposed address he provided.
In October, he will be free, although it is unclear where he will live.
Bruce and Denise Morcombe, whose son Daniel was murdered by another serial sex offender, said the public had a right to know if Fardon was living nearby.
Shadow attorney-general David Janetzki said the Government needed to appeal the court’s decision.
— with Domanii Cameron and Sarah Vogler
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