A convicted child sex criminal was stopped at Sydney Airport as he attempted to leave Australia on the day new laws on child sex tourism laws came into effect.
Australian foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop said on Wednesday, Dec. 13 that the arrest was proof the law is effective but gave few details on the man arrested.
“The man is currently being interviewed by the federal police, so I don’t want to go into any more details,” said Bishop reported The Australian.
“I don’t wish to prejudice the interview, but he was stopped here at the smart gate, because of these laws, because his name appeared on the watch list,” she said.
Authorities stop a convicted pedophile at Sydney airport-as laws preventing registered child sex offenders travelling o/s come into effect pic.twitter.com/SsjaufmDZv
— Julie Bishop (@JulieBishopMP) December 12, 2017
A joint statement put out by Bishop and the country’s Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, said the new laws are designed to prevent registered child sex offenders from travelling overseas to abuse children.
“They will also have their passports cancelled at the request of state or territory authorities,” said the minister’s statement.
The government said that Australia has knowledge of about 20,000 child sex offenders who have served their sentences but are subject to reporting obligations that help to protect the community.
“For too long, these predators have traveled overseas undetected, including to countries where weaker laws mean they have opportunities to commit heinous crimes,” the ministers said in the joint statement.
From today, it is illegal for registered child sex offenders to travel overseas. Already, one man has been caught. @AusFedPolice pic.twitter.com/qxT6DD6l0z
— Michael Keenan MP (@MichaelKeenanMP) December 13, 2017
The government said that last year, some 800 Australian-registered child sex offenders travelled overseas. Around 40 percent did so without informing authorities of their travel. This will no longer be the case, said the government.
The ministers said this law is a world first in addressing the problem.
A report put out by ECPAT International said that nearby Southeast Asia and certain countries in South Asia have long been the target of child sex tourists.
The new law was championed by Australian senator Derryn Hinch.
“A convicted child sex offender [was] turned back at Sydney Airport today under [a] new passport ban law that I got passed this year. Those child rape holidays for Aussie deviates are over,” tweeted Hinch, a former broadcaster.
Super proud moment. A convicted child sex offender turned back at Sydney Airport today under new passport ban law that I got passed this year. Those child rape holidays for Aussie deviates are over.
— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) December 13, 2017
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From NTD.tv
