Editor’s view: Minister promised a fix at pedo precinct - he’s failed
Just two months after a pedophile allegedly abused a teenager in the state’s secure post-prison housing precinct, there’s been another breach. And Minister Mark Ryan’s response is simply not good enough, writes the editor.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It was two months ago now that The Courier-Mail revealed that a dangerous sexual offender deemed safe to live in pedophile housing at Wacol had been charged with not only sexually abusing a girl, 15, but making child exploitation material with that same girl in a house at the precinct.
The revelation sparked a political firestorm, with the Premier vowing to ensure “no stone is left unturned in relation to the review” of what went wrong – and the responsible minister, Mark Ryan, promising action to ensure no such breach would happen in the future.
Fast-forward to the weekend before last and one of the state’s most notorious pedophiles – and another sex offender – was caught hosting a woman at the same facility.
Minister Ryan’s response? To last night tell Queenslanders not to worry, the checks were now “more stringent and more thorough”. It’s just not a good enough response – more clearly needs to be done.
The small collection of buildings, known as the “Wacol precinct”, houses some of Queensland’s worst sex offenders. It is a necessary evil – with sex offenders categorised under the Dangerous Prisoners Sexual Offenders Act living there under strict orders after they have completed their prison sentences.
These are people who have done their time behind bars, but who authorities still consider a risk to community safety. The orders vary, but those subject to them would likely have restrictions on internet usage, alcohol intake or where they can go in the community.
They cannot have visitors, as shown by the fact that the two men in the latest case – notorious pedophile Douglas Jackway and another sex offender – are now back behind bars, having been charged over their rendezvous.
When the issue blew up in December, Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart said: “We’re dealing with incredibly complex and challenging individuals who have committed abhorrent crimes and can be well versed in avoiding scrutiny.”
Well, as we say on page 1 today, why don’t you just lock the gates? The precinct is monitored by prison guards and there are large fences surrounding the complex – and Mr Stewart also promised “enhancements” in December relating to lighting and CCTV.
Integrating these people into society is clearly not the answer. Would you want Jackway living in your suburb? A man who abducted a young boy as he rode his bike and raped him in the bush? We clearly have no choice but to have this neighbourhood of sex offenders.
As a community, however, we should surely demand its security is watertight. Minister Ryan says that after an external review, there are now more patrols and an increased physical security presence on the precinct. But measures to make unauthorised visits “more difficult” are still under way. It’s been two months. Why no urgency?
Hung jury in trial of man accused of indecent act toward child
A jury was unable to come to a verdict on one of the two charges a man faced after he allegedly masturbated while looking at a nine-year-old girl.
‘Disturbing’: Police shock at gun allegedly held at little boys
A detective of 26 years has described the “disturbing” image of two young boys allegedly on a man’s phone as something he had never seen before in his lengthy career.