THE state government is being urged to make it compulsory for people who commit serious offences against children to be placed on the Community Protection Offender Register. Children's advocates are concerned Tasmania is the only jurisdiction in the country where inclusion on the register is not mandatory for those who commit heinous crimes against young people. Allison Ritchie, from the group People Protecting Children, has written to Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin urging her to consider legislative change. "If you're convicted in other states, the judge has to place you on the sex offenders' register," Ms Ritchie said. "Tasmania is the only state that leaves it entirely up to the discretion of the judge or magistrate, even in the case of the most serious crimes." The advocacy group wants child sex offenders and child murderers automatically added to the list. The group also wants all offenders convicted of serious crimes against children to be placed on the register for life. Underage offenders would be exempt from the changes the group is proposing. Tasmanian Law Society president Matthew Verney said child sex offences were very serious by any measure, but that said the society did not support mandatory measures. "There are varying degrees of seriousness which may impact on whether or not someone should be recorded," he said. "The recording of someone on the register should be a matter for the court and subject to judicial discretion." Dr Goodwin said the government was not considering the issue. Ms Ritchie has also written to federal Attorney-General George Brandis, calling for a nationally consistent approach to registrable offences, mandatory registration and reporting obligations. "It's unacceptable that a convicted person, who would be automatically placed on the register in all other states and territories, may not be subject to registration in Tasmania," she said. "Therefore they may not be under any reporting obligation when travelling in Australia or internationally." Senator Brandis was contacted for comment.
THE state government is being urged to make it compulsory for people who commit serious offences against children to be placed on the Community Protection Offender Register.
Children's advocates are concerned Tasmania is the only jurisdiction in the country where inclusion on the register is not mandatory for those who commit heinous crimes against young people.
Allison Ritchie, from the group People Protecting Children, has written to Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin urging her to consider legislative change.
"If you're convicted in other states, the judge has to place you on the sex offenders' register," Ms Ritchie said.
"Tasmania is the only state that leaves it entirely up to the discretion of the judge or magistrate, even in the case of the most serious crimes."
The advocacy group wants child sex offenders and child murderers automatically added to the list.
The group also wants all offenders convicted of serious crimes against children to be placed on the register for life.
Underage offenders would be exempt from the changes the group is proposing.
Tasmanian Law Society president Matthew Verney said child sex offences were very serious by any measure, but that said the society did not support mandatory measures.
"There are varying degrees of seriousness which may impact on whether or not someone should be recorded," he said.
"The recording of someone on the register should be a matter for the court and subject to judicial discretion."
Dr Goodwin said the government was not considering the issue.
Ms Ritchie has also written to federal Attorney-General George Brandis, calling for a nationally consistent approach to registrable offences, mandatory registration and reporting obligations.
"It's unacceptable that a convicted person, who would be automatically placed on the register in all other states and territories, may not be subject to registration in Tasmania," she said.
"Therefore they may not be under any reporting obligation when travelling in Australia or internationally."
