Convicted paedophiles would be denied passports in Australia under a “world-first” plan proposed by the government.<\/p>\n
The proposal, to be introduced to parliament, would prohibit registered sex offenders from travelling overseas.<\/p>\n
Justice Minister Michael Keenan said it would affect about 20,000 offenders who had completed punishments but remained under monitoring by authorities.<\/p>\n
Sex offenders would be able to apply for passports if they were no longer on the register, the government said.<\/p>\n
“No country has ever taken such decisive and strong action to stop its citizens from going overseas, often to vulnerable countries, to abuse kids,” Mr Keenan said.<\/p>\n
About 800 registered sex offenders travelled overseas from Australia in 2016, according to the government.<\/p>\n
The government said about 3,200 sex offenders would never be eligible for passports because they were being monitored for life.<\/p>\n
Mr Keenan described child sex tourism as an “absolutely abhorrent crime”.<\/p>\n
The proposal was reached with independent Senator Derryn Hinch, long time campaigner for tougher laws to deal with sex offenders.<\/p>\n
Mr Hinch said the proposal would protect children.<\/p>\n
“You go to Bali, you go to Phnom Penh, you go to Siem Reap, and you see these middle-aged Australian men there, Caucasian men, with a young local kid – they are not there to get a suntan,” he told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Last year, Australian man Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis was convicted of sexually abusing 11 girls in Indonesia and jailed for 15 years.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"