Why this woman is fed up with Australia

A woman is fighting for Australia to have a public sex offender registry after her own traumatic five-year experience in the legal system.

An Australian woman is fighting for a public sex offender registry after a traumatic five-year experience in the legal system that left her feeling “trapped”.

Corrine Norman’s abuse started when she was just 13 years old and continued for almost a year. She was plied with drugs and alcohol and raped, and threats were made against her life if she even considered speaking up about the abuse. The abuse prompted her to make two attempts on her own life, but the abuse didn’t stop until she moved interstate.

It would be seven years until she went to the police. But rather than bringing an end to the saga, reporting the abuse marked the beginning of five years trapped in the criminal justice system.

Ms Norman said she found the legal system “just as traumatic” as the abuse she endured that had led her there.

And even as her time navigating the system came to an end when her abuser was sentenced to 27 years in prison, she was hit another devastating blow, discovering that her abuser’s identity would be protected in court documents.

Corrine Norman was abused when she was 13. Picture: Supplied

One of the few things that kept her going through the traumatic process was the belief that putting herself out there, and getting a conviction, meant that her abuser would always have a smear against their name. It meant others would be safe - she thought.

But in the end, for legal reasons, her abuser’s name was withheld. His crimes were laid out in detail in the court judgment, but being granted a pseudonym meant no one would ever know who it was who was capable of such vile acts. Ms Norman felt her abuser’s name being withheld meant reoffending could be “easy” once he was released from prison.

“As victims, it often seemed like we were held to a higher standard than the perpetrators themselves. The relentless cross examinations went far beyond seeking truth. They became an assault on our character and credibility,” she told news.com.au.

“Being called a liar, having every word of my statement dissected in belittling and devastating ways, was hugely damaging. It takes immense courage to come forward, only to be treated as though your pain and suffering is a fabrication.”

She said her abuser was never subjected to the same treatment — rather, she said, the system was “skewed in his favour”.

She labelled the legal system ‘traumatic’. Picture: Instagram/@unveilingcorrine

The anger and heartbreak at this led Ms Norman to create a petition urging government bodies to implement a public sex offender registry.

In Australia, sex offender registries vary from state to state, with police forces in charge of the information. In most states, including Victoria, only people with police authorisation have access to the sex offender registry. In other states, such as Western Australia, you can apply to find out who the registered sex offenders are in the area.

In October 2024, South Australia passed laws to allow people to access certain information on the child sex offender registry. Parents and caregivers will be able to check whether adults who have unsupervised access to their children are offenders. People will have to apply for this information.

Australia’s set-up is completely different to that in the United States. In the US, the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website allows residents to enter an address and see the image, name and address of registered sex offenders in the area. Alternatively, a person’s name can be checked directly.

Ms Norman said the biggest issue with Australia’s system is the transparency and accessibility for the public, as currently it’s only readily available to law enforcement.

“This means women, parents, guardians, and our community members have no way to verify whether someone in their vicinity has a history of sexual offending which is a huge flaw,” she said.

She's now created a petition to urge Australia for a uniformed and accessible sex offender registry. Picture: Instagram/@unveilingcorrine

She also pointed out that sex offender management is controlled by each state and territory - meaning there is inconsistency across Australia - and questioned what could happen if a predator being monitored in one state were to move.

Instead of this system, Ms Norman is calling for a “frequently updated, regulated, and accessible public registry tailored to Australia’s needs”. She said the goal isn’t to copy the US registry blindly, but to take tools that would work for an Australian context. She insisted it needed to be unified and national.

“So many of us would never knowingly allow these predators into our homes, our lives, or near our loved ones if we had access to this vital information. The lack of transparency leaves too many vulnerable, but with this registry, we could prevent untold harm. It has the power to protect countless women and children from unimaginable trauma, creating safer communities for everyone,” she told news.com.au.

“This isn’t just about justice. It’s about prevention and empowerment. We deserve the tools to protect ourselves and those we care about.”

The response to Ms Norman’s petition has been mixed. Mostly, people have been supportive. It’s something Ms Norman is “incredibly grateful” for. But, there have been critics. Some have expressed concerns about people taking justice into their own hands — or that by having a public sex offender registry it will allow victims to be identified through their attacker.

“Of course, there will always be critics and keyboard warriors and those concerned about vigilante groups or the idea that a public register could somehow out victims. To me, this is fear mongering,” she said.

“There is absolutely no need for victims or their details to be revealed. What we are advocating for is transparency about the perpetrators — their identities, not those of their victims. Victims could be anyone, anywhere, and that’s all the public needs to know.”

She said as for conversations about vigilantes, if perpetrators were so worried about their safety perhaps this should be considered before committing a crime.

Ms Norman said the campaign is about one thing: safety of potential victims should matter more than the comfort of those committing harm.

She said it isn't about copying the US. Picture: Instagram/@unveilingcorrine

Ms Norman said she had a few goals with the petition. The first was that she wanted to raise awareness as many people didn’t know Australia didn’t have a public sex offender registry. The next step is to take it to parliament and have law reform.

By sharing her story, she hopes that there are people and organisations out there that have greater resources who want to join her fight.

“That being said, every single signature, share, and voice in support of this movement means the world to me. Each person who stands with us brings us closer to making this goal a reality. Together, we can create a safer future,” she said.

Ms Norman has been through an incredible amount in her life. But, she wants people to know they aren’t alone.

“It’s something that needs to be normalised for the young girls out there. There is a huge community of us. They aren’t alone. Nobody would blame them — and if they do come out and blame them then those people need to be out of their life because there are so many of us that would support them and hold them up high,” she said.

“They have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to the actions of these disgusting monsters. The victims have no reason to hold any part of it that makes them feel belittled or small. It’s on the perpetrator. I feel like all the little girls need to know that and have the confidence to come forward. It doesn’t make them icky or less than. They’re nothing but a brave, strong survivor.”

You can follow more of Ms Norman’s advocacy journey here.

Originally published as Why this woman is fed up with Australia