Jacquie Petrusma

Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin
COMMUNITY PROTECTION (OFFENDER REPORTING) AMENDMENT BILL 2011 (No. 18)
April 14th, 2011

I take the opportunity to talk on the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill 2011 especially in regard to the wider matter of sexual offending in our community. As my colleague, the member for Denison, Elise Archer, has said, the Liberals support this bill but believe there are plenty of opportunities for policy reform in the area of sexual offending that the Government has not addressed in its twelve-and-a-half years in office.

Last year Bravehearts presented me with a very detailed research document on the matter of sexual offending in a national sense; it is shocking in its content. The report reveals that one in three young girls and one in six young boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. A 1994 survey of 453 paedophiles revealed they were collectively responsible for the molestation of over 67 000 children, an average of 148 children per individual paedophile. In 98 per cent of all child abuse cases reported to officials in New South Wales, children's statements were found to be true, but half of the victims of child sexual abuse never report the abuse to another person, and many do not disclose until they reach adulthood. In New South Wales, only one in 100 sex offenders in a given year end up convicted of sexual assault.

The Bravehearts report also talks about convicting, treating and managing paedophiles and cites a Canadian study which found a recidivism rate of 170 per cent. On conviction rates in Queensland, court data shows that between 700-900 persons accused of sexual offences come before the courts annually but just 45 per cent convicted of rape and 67 per cent convicted for other sexual offences, whereas the conviction rate for other types of offences is around 75 per cent.

Sexual Assault Support Services, or SASS, in Tasmania has also commented publicly on the increasing rate of sexual abuse in the Tasmanian community and the need to put in place waiting lists as a result. Last year Liz Little from SASS told ABC Radio that we really have to look closely at the services we are delivering in relation to the support we provide to victims of sexual assault and ask ourselves are we delivering services that are appropriate and adequate. Ms Little said that, next to the Northern Territory, Tasmania has the highest rate of sexual assault incidents in Australia. This is a shameful problem that this State has, and rates are increasing, not improving. It is therefore incumbent on all areas of government from Child Protection, Justice, to Police and Education to look closely at how we can, firstly, prevent sexual assault in our community and, secondly, deter sex offenders from repeat offending. We know from the Bravehearts research that perpetrators of sexual abuse rarely have only one victim, but I do not believe that we are doing nearly enough treatment, rehabilitation and conviction.

I understand that in Western Australia there is a specialised child interview unit that sits within the police force that has well-developed and trained staff, policies and procedures to minimise further distress when interviewing victims of childhood sexual abuse. This might be something that the Government would be prepared to investigate, but with budget cuts looming in Police the minister will most likely say it is not possible in this climate. In the Justice area we could start by having the pilot children's court for youth justice issues extended to children's issues and look at other court processes in relation to child witnesses, including providing evidence. Via education, it is imperative that we empower children to understand personal safety, what sexual abuse is, their rights and especially their right to say no and to tell a responsible adult.

Last year the Tasmanian Department of Education trialled a program with Learning Services North, a school-based personal safety program delivered by Bravehearts, but we have yet to hear whether the Government will introduce this program statewide in its schools, especially in the current climate.

It is heartbreaking to talk to those professionals who deliver sexual assault services in Tasmania. It is heartbreaking to learn of children as young as 18 months old being sexually abused and it is heartbreaking that even in this important area of service delivery there are waiting lists because of the high demand. Our community has an obligation to protect children in this State in every way we can. While the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill helps to protect the community by requiring sex offenders to keep Tasmania Police informed of their whereabouts, the Liberal Party believes that the State Government should be doing more to reduce the likelihood that sex offenders will reoffend. The Liberal Party believes that all offenders serving a sentence for a sexual offence should be required to undertake sex offender treatment prior to their release on parole. The form of treatment should be determined according to the circumstances of the particular offender but sex offenders should not be permitted to simply opt out of treatment. The State Government has maintained that treatment is unlikely to be effective for those who do not consent to it or accept responsibility for their offending. The reality is that the opportunity for parole provides a strong incentive for sex offenders to participate in a sex offender treatment program. Some of those who volunteer to undergo treatment may not be solely motivated by a desire to change their behaviour. Making some form of treatment compulsory will be in line with community expectations and offer better protection.

The Liberal Party also believes that there should be a community-based sex offender treatment program to provide support for sex offenders completing a community-based sentence. We acknowledge that the Government is introducing a community-based maintenance program for sex offenders who have completed the prison-based sex offender treatment program to ensure that any gains achieved in prison are not lost in their return to the community. There is still a need to ensure that other sex offenders in the community receive treatment to reduce the likelihood that they will reoffend.