Australia introduces tough new laws on child sex tourism

Good thing. Now they can't commit the offense again. Look at the odyssey of Gary Glitter. Now he's under house arrest in the UK and can't use the Net either.

I could never see anything like this happening in Japan. It was only two or three years ago that selling child porn became illegal. However, possessing it is still not illegal. And, there is no sex offenders list in Japan either. I'm very glad to see Australia setting an example. Their crackdown on internet grooming is also excellent! They catch quite a few of these leches every year by posing as young children on social media sites. Keep it up and rid society of these sexual predators.

somewhat surprised they were allowed out of the country anyway. why not just take away their passports? job done!

obviously as a parent of a 3 year old...great. But that still leaves 20000 stuck in Australia cruising parks and beaches. Tough call. Tag em all.

i don't see how this can be legal. if you're committed of a crime and have served your sentence, how can the gov't restrict your movements forever? i'm all for harsh punishments against child sex offenders, but at the same time, everyone has rights, even the worst individuals.

everyone has rights, even the worst individuals.

Sorry but you lose your rights once you molest a child imo. There is no proven rehabiliation for sex-offenders either.

Wow crazy Santa looks pretty vile.

@starpunk

Gary Glitter isn't under house arrest, he's serving a 16 year prison sentence.

Disgusting animals. Why not just castrate them?

Sorry but you lose your rights once you molest a child imo. There is no proven rehabiliation for sex-offenders either.

if this is so, then why not just impose the death penalty or imprison them forever? i'm not denying that this crime is disgusting and vile, but society is basically imposing a life sentence on a crime. laws are meant to punish a crime committed, not a crime that may happen in the future. it's like marking them with a scarlet letter. i just don't think it's fair.

This is kind of an admission that paedophilia is not curable (at least not by jail terms and psychologists) and so these folks are a kind of different class of criminal.  otherwise served your time should be enough.  Maybe the same should be considered for rapists?  Murderers?  other violent criminals?

Justice Minister Michael Keenan called the crackdown "the toughest on paedophiles in a generation", making Australia "a world leader in protecting vulnerable children overseas from child sex tourism".

LOL how often have I heard oz govts bragging about how great they are, that they're 'world leaders' in such and such field blabla total bs.

A couple of weeks ago aussie journo Ben McCormack got fined aud1,000 and placed on a good behaviour bond (2-3 years i think) on child porn charges, no jail time, nothing. Last year the child abuse royal commission told us child protection in this country had been a disgrace for decades (church, govt, coppers not doing enough). Talk about world leaders!

It is now an offense for registered child sex offenders -- those convicted of the most serious forms of abuse -- to leave Australia without approval from law enforcement agencies.

Good, about time. Have to say am surprised that some posters on here think it's far too harsh and talk about another 'life sentence' and that offenders should be left alone once they're out of jail. Strongly disagree with that. Imo nothing wrong with having to contact the authorities when you're a convicted offender (am talking serious stuff) and are about to travel to a known pedos haven.

They catch quite a few of these leches every year by posing as young children on social media sites.

Hello, entrapment.

I am surprised that the Bali government crackdown on sex offender coming into there country, they have very strict drug laws, 1 chap the other week is serving x amount of years for having 6 grams os weed in his bag, ( who is now on the run) but sex trade in Bali is a bit lax shall we say.

Indonesia chemically casterates them if Australia wants to get serious thats the way to go.

everyone has rights, even the worst individuals.Nope when they molested children they lost them if it was your kid was molested sure you would be singing a different tune.

The chances of something like that happening in an increasingly post-modern Australia is zero, whether its a good idea or not. Although since its mostly men that commit the offenses many of the femi-nazi's in this country would probably lap it up.

agree with @Brian. even walking with my family in the morning in Kuta, approached by many young woman asking if i want a massage and/or boom boom.

 but society is basically imposing a life sentence on a crime

It can also be viewed as imposing a restriction on those who pose a danger to society. Travel restrictions are just an extension of restrictions already in place for those on a sex offenders register. (employment, etc.)

i don't see how this can be legal.

It's legal if the law allows it. Australia just created such a law.

I'm very glad to see Australia setting an example.

A draconian example. Also, that is the same country that imprisons its citizens for watching cartoon p orn (and added to the sex offender list) and bans releases of GTA-style video gam es and AV vid eos featuring a-cup actresses. So draconian it deserves derision.