Labor pledges public pedo register, new moves to protect victims

Labor plans to introduce a public child sex offender register and keep serious offenders in prison until they prove they are no longer a threat. Do you agree? Have your say here.

A public child sex-offender register that allows police to tell parents if there are any high-risk paedophiles living in their neighbourhood would be established in South Australia if Labor wins this month’s state election.

People who conceal the bodies of their victims would also face an extra 15 years in prison. That proposed law would apply in cases such as the one of Geoffrey Adams, who confessed to killing his wife, Colleen, 45 years after burying her in the backyard of the couple’s home at Maitland, on the Yorke Peninsula.

Adams died in jail in 2020 before he could be sentenced.

Geoffrey Adams was charged with the 1973 murder of his wife Colleen Adams but died before his trial. Picture: Nine News

Police at the property where they dug in the morning for the remains of Colleen Adams, who disappeared in 1973. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Under Labor’s plan, child sex offenders who breach their reporting conditions would be publicly identified and police would be allowed to provide parents with information about individuals who have regular contact with their children.

The public register, based on a successful Western Australian model, is among a slew of measures in Labor’s law-and-order policy aimed at increasing public safety.

They include new legislation to ensure the indefinite detention of serious child sex offenders until they prove they are no longer a threat to children. Serious child sex offenders would also be subject to lifetime GPS tracking when they are released from prison.

Penalties for a range of child-sex offences would be increased, while loopholes allowing offenders who possess childlike sex dolls to receive sentence discounts and bail upon arrest would be closed.

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas has announced plans to establish a child sex offender register. Picture: Emma Brasier

Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said the proposed measures would “prioritise the safety of children and families”.

“The most important responsibility of government is to protect the community, particularly the most vulnerable,’’ he said.

“Labor’s package of laws and penalties for child sex offenders will be the toughest in the nation when it comes to protecting our kids and punishing predators.

“We have listened to victims, their families and the broader community, and we know that there is a strong will for tougher action on these predators.’’

Under Labor’s law-and-order election pledges, an extra $2m in funding would be allocated to assist victims of crime during court processes. Additional money would also be provided to the Victim Support Service, which has had its funding slashed under the Liberal government.

A loophole surrounding those who import child-like sex dolls will also be closed.

Mr Malinauskas said the 15-year jail term for concealing a body would be on top of any murder or manslaughter sentence. “Concealing the body of a victim also adds to grief, suffering and uncertainty for the loved ones of victims,’’ he said.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said the Liberal government was “out of touch with community expectations and is failing to prioritise victims”.

“The Liberal government was too busy trying to shut down parliament instead of passing laws to protect our children from vile predators,’’ he said. “If elected, Labor will build on our strong record in community safety with higher penalties, less loopholes and the toughest laws in Australian for serious child-sex offenders.’’

Originally published as Labor pledges public pedo register, new moves to protect victims