Qld govt passes tough sex offender laws

The Queensland government has strengthened laws to ensure the state's worst pedophiles will be monitored for life after they are released from jail.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan

Qld Police Minister Mark Ryan says pedophiles could be stopped from living near schools. (AAP)

Repeat child sex offenders in Queensland will now be monitored for life after the Palaszczuk government pushed tougher laws through parliament.

A serious child sex offender on a Dangerous Prisoner (Sex Offender) Order will now automatically move to the new monitoring measures when that order expires.

The measures, which passed the parliament on Tuesday night, include regular reporting to police, registering their home address and providing passwords to their social media accounts.

Offenders must also notify police of any contact they have with children, and any changes to their appearance including the addition of or removal of tattoos.

Failure to do so could see them return to jail for up to five years.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said police could also apply for "Offender Prohibition Orders", which would restrict where offenders can live or travel.

"This would give police the power to stop someone living or working near a school, for example, or going to a children's playground," he said in a statement.

"We're lowering the threshold for what constitutes 'concerning conduct' and expanding the types of conditions a court can impose, including enforcing GPS tracking, making counselling sessions compulsory, and directing them where to live.

"Whereas now police must have concerns for a child's 'sexual safety', we'll broaden that definition to relate to a reportable offender posing a risk to the 'safety or wellbeing of any child or children'."


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Source: AAP



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