Community outrage at child sex offender working at Gold Coast corner store

An outraged mother and community have publicly highlighted a convicted child sex offender working inside a corner store - and a legal expert supports them. Read the offender’s reaction.

Kristopher Marc Racette: “Our family safety has been compromised so we don’t want to make any comment.”

A Gold Coast corner store has been shuttered following community outrage that convicted child sex offender Kristopher Marc Racette was working inside.

Police said they were called to Tallebudgera’s Koala Park General Store after the owner reported residents filming the premises. It was also covered in fliers labelled ‘Child Sex Offender Alert’ with details of Racette’s crimes.

Racette, a former real estate agent, was released from prison late last year after serving eight months of a three-year sentence, plus two years’ probation. He was caught with 65 videos of child abuse material and pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making and possessing child exploitation material, as well as indecent treatment of a minor.

The videos showed children in various states of undress and being touched.

Kristopher Marc Racette.

The prosecutor told Southport District Court at the time that Racette said the activity had been for the “thrill” of it.

A police spokeswoman on Thursday said officers attended the Koala Park General Store this week but no one was seen filming the business. She said the owner was advised of personal security measures.

Local resident and mother Jessie Knox said she posted Gold Coast Bulletin stories about Racette to social media after she became aware he was working in the neighbourhood.

“He’s been there handing out free lollies and drinks to kids,” Ms Knox said.

“There are little teens walking in there all the time in swimmers and barely any clothes on, since the shop is right by the beach.

“Since I posted about this, I’ve been contacted by a child protection detective and she was very concerned.

“But why is he even allowed to be working there amongst children?”

When the Bulletin phoned him on Friday for a response to the community outrage, Mr Racette said “our family safety has been compromised so we don’t want to make any comment”.

Gatenby Criminal Lawyers director Michael Gatenby said Racette’s employment at the store was a “shortcoming of the system”.

Koala Park General Store at Tallebudgera, Gold Coast Picture: Google Maps

Mr Gatenby said while the offender might legally be allowed to work in that environment, community concern was justified.

“Generally speaking if you’re working with children you will need a Blue Card, but you wouldn’t need that to own or operate a general store,” said Mr Gatenby.

“However, it does seem to be a shortcoming in the system that you could have a person convicted of a very serious offence able to be alone in the store with children.

“It’s a fine line to tread between rehabilitation and also protection of the community.

“In this case I think the community is quite rightly concerned.

“I would have thought the Police Commissioner could step in and take some action. I’ve had clients on parole who have been restricted in terms of their occupation.”

Ms Knox said she was proud community action had forced the closure of the Koala Park General Store, at least temporarily.

Lawyer Michael Gatenby: “In this case I think the community is quite rightly concerned.” Picture: Richard Gosling

She said she was worried when posting the information online that community members would take vigilante action, but was pleased at their responsible actions.

“No one wants to see anyone hunted down, but we do want our children to be safe in the community,” she said.

“If he’s done his time then, fine, he’s allowed to work. But why choose a job where you’re putting yourself amongst children? You’re putting yourself in harm’s way, along with the kids.

“I think our community responded beautifully. We got the word out, the shop is now shut, all the windows and doors are shuttered, the fliers are everywhere, but there has been no violence or threats.”

Racette was forced to give up his career as a real estate agent due to the offending.

He married in January 2022 - after he was charged - a month before conviction. It is believed he and his wife own the Koala Park General Store, which opened under new management in January this year.

Racette is also listed on LinkedIn as a director of Asset Management Business Brokers.

An online blog post from that business, authored by Racette, states: “For many entrepreneurs, businesses are like our children. Our hopes for our children include the hope they will outlive us, find new experiences in life and carve out their own future in the world beyond our own.”