A supervision order dictating living arrangements and curfews for serial sex offender Robert John Fardon has been lifted by a Queensland court.
But the 70-year-old will remain monitored for the rest of his life after the state government last year rushed through law changes as a backup plan.
He was first convicted in 1967, then aged 18, for sexual abuses offences against a 10-year-old girl, and in 2003 became the first person to be jailed in Queensland indefinitely under new laws targeting repeat sex offenders.
The state government made a case to the Brisbane Supreme Court in November to extend Fardon's classification as a dangerous prisoner.
Its argument was in contrast to three psychiatrists who said he posed a low risk of carrying out more crimes and should not stay under the state's watch.
A decision to lift the order was handed down by Justice Helen Bowskill last week, but media were asked to leave the hearing and blocked from accessing and reporting her ruling.
The order was made public on Wednesday morning.
"I am not satisfied that the evidence establishes to the requisite high degree of probability that the respondent is a serious danger to the community in the absence of a further supervision order," it reads.
Fardon now automatically falls under new child sex offender laws passed in September.
"This means police will know where Fardon lives and travels, details of his phone and internet connections, social media accounts, interactions and passwords for the rest of his life," Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said on Wednesday.
Authorities will also know if he changes his appearance, including if he gets a tattoo.
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath says police will know where Robert Fardon lives and travels. Source: AAP
"If Fardon fails to meet these reporting conditions, he could face five years in jail," Ms D'Ath added.
There are no grounds for an appeal against the court's decision.
Fardon will not be automatically required to wear an electronic monitoring device, but police can apply to the court for specific orders which come with a device.
The state opposition wants him returned to jail.
"If (Labor) didn't play politics and adopted the LNP's proposed sex offender laws, this sadistic grub would still be under lock and key," Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington tweeted.
"He is now free thanks to Labor."
