Paedophiles will be named and shamed in a national child sex offender register

Paedophiles’ names, aliases, photos and the nature of their crimes will be made public with the Federal government announcing it will establish a national child sex offender registry.

The proposed register will also detail offenders’ date of birth, their physical description and the ‘general location and nature’ of their offending, budget papers have revealed. 

The Budget announcement, led by Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton, will please some child safety advocates. But it will raise concerns about people taking vigilante action against offenders.  

Paedophiles’ names, aliases, photos and the nature of their crimes will be made public with the Federal government announcing it will establish a national child sex offender registry

Budget papers make it clear the register will be ‘publicly available’ and hosted by the secretive national crime fighting body, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). 

Police agencies in every state and territory will provide, vet and manage the information included on the $7.8 million register. 

‘Protection of our most vulnerable – our children – remains one of the highest priorities of the Morrison government,’ Mr Dutton said in a statement. 

The Budget papers don’t specify what the rules would be for perpetrators whose victims would be identified if they were named, such as mums and dads who abuse their children. 

The papers also do not elaborate on what crimes would get offenders listed on the register, for instance, child pornography, but not physical offences, as was the case for former A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack.

Mr Dutton (pictured) has previously floated the idea of a child sex offender registry but the government was not known to be forging ahead with the plan

Mr Dutton has previously floated the idea of a child sex offender registry but the government was not known to be forging ahead with the plan. 

Child advocates Bravehearts opposed the proposal when Mr Dutton suggested the measure in January.

‘The bottom line is that all dangerous and repeat sex offenders should not be on a register, they should be in jail,’ said founder Hetty Johnston.

‘No offender should be released until the risk they pose is of a level that can be managed in the community. 

‘A register will not keep children safe.’

Serial paedophile Dean Angus Bell (pictured) is only 25 but has been rated by experts among the top one per cent of sex offenders internationally. He re-offended within hours of release

Former A Current Affair Ben McCormack described himself as a ‘proud ped’ in a messages that saw him plead guilty to a child pornography charge. But he did not offend against a child, raising questions about whether he would be listed on the new registry

The sex offenders register is likely to become another issue dividing the parties at the coming election. 

Labor has previously said any changes must be ‘evidence-based and effective’. 

The Federal party has pointed out former prime minister Tony Abbott once ruled out the measure. 

‘It would be good to know what has changed since then,’ a spokesperson told the ABC.  

Worst of the worst: Half of the nation’s convicted paedophiles re-offend within four years. Warren Hayter (left) abused disabled boys across several states, while the NSW government is fighting to keep Michael Guider in jail

Budget papers also revealed the government will set up a national museum and memorial for victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. 

It will provide $2.5 million to consult stakeholders on potential options and form of a ‘national museum or memorial’.