Even while announcing the decision to create a national database of child sex offenders in Australia, Home Affairs Peter Dutton admitted support for the effectiveness of one is mixed.
The government wants to create a single national register of convicted child sex offenders. It would make the offender's name, photograph and postcode available on a website. But it would not include their home address.
Mr Dutton says it's a sensible balance between the rights of the child and the right to privacy.
He says there's been an almost 80 per cent increase in child abuse and exploitation in Australia between 2017 and 2018. The Coalition needs the states to support the idea because, while it would be a national scheme, it would be state police who contribute to and update the register.
There are already small-scale schemes in Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, which are similar to the government's proposal.
Also, Australia already has a National Child Offender System, but it's only accessible to police agencies.
Critics were quick to dismiss Mr Dutton's announcement as a political stunt. Hetty Johnston, the founder of prominent child protection group Bravehearts, says the registry would create a false sense of security for the community.
