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2010
Rob Messenger MP - Member for Burnett
3 November 2010
Steinberg & Messenger welcome Hetty Johnson’s backflip on a QLD Megan’s Law
Solicitor, child protection activist and former police prosecutor, Heather Steinberg, along with Member for Burnett Rob Messenger have expressed surprise, but have welcomed Hetty Johnson’s public comments this morning on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program regarding the establishment of a public sex offender register.
Mr Messenger and Ms Steinberg said from her comments this morning it appears that Hetty Johnson has now reversed her view on the effectiveness of a system based on America’s Megan’s Law, where parents are given the right to know when and where dangerous sex offenders are released.
“At the moment most parents and grandparents would be shocked to know that the Queensland government can release the approximately 90 official dangerous sex offenders back into any Queensland community in secret,” Mr Messenger said.
Mr Messenger and Ms Steinberg recently worked together and created Queensland’s first draft of a law that is similar to America’s Megan’s. The Law, which is in a rough draft format and has the working title of “Sex Offenders Register Bill”, can be found today at Rob Messenger’s Website www.robmessenger.com or Heather Steinberg’s website: (www.littleangels.org.au ).
Mr Messenger is inviting feedback and constructive criticism from the public. He and Ms Steinberg will use the information they receive from the public to shape and prepare the final draft of the legislation that Mr Messenger will present to parliament in a private members bill.
“I’m particularly interested in suggestions from people as to what this Bill may be called. Megan's law in America was named after Megan Kanaka, a young girl who was raped and murdered by a known sex offender who was released by the government into her street,” Mr Messenger said.
“Perhaps this bill, with the permission of relatives, can be named in honour and memory of a Queensland victim of a dangerous sex offender,” he said.
Ms Steinberg said that on 25 October 2007, the then Police Minister Judy Spence, regarding a petition to establish a child sex offender register, states in her response letter that “Bravehearts Incorporated, a major advocate of supporting children against sex offenders, does not support public registers of child sex offenders”.
“Bravehearts has stated that ‘public registers do not protect the community and can even make sex offenders more dangerous’.
“Even on Bravehearts own website, they don’t support a public register. Now she has come out in support of a public register,” Ms Steinberg said.
“I welcome her major backflip on the position and look forward to her input into the legislation,” she said.
Mr Messenger and Ms Steinberg will be meeting in Hervey Bay on Saturday 13 November 2010 to work on a final draft of their legislation and invite people who would like to attend and participate in the creation of Queensland’s first “Megan’s Law” to register their interest at Mr Messenger’s office.
Megan's Law - Public Register of Sex Offenders
Queensland, - 22/10/2010
Solicitor, children’s advocate, community activist and former police prosecutor, Heather Steinberg, is calling on all Queenslanders to join with her and sign a petition which supports the establishment of a public register of sex offenders or a "Megan’s Law" for our state.
She said that most QLD mums and dads would be shocked to learn that the QLD government have taken away their right to know if a dangerous sex offender and paedophile moves into their neighbourhood.
"As a mother, I should have the right to know if the government is going to relocate a repeat child sex offender into my street. I don’t have that right now and I want it. The QLD government should not be allowed to secretly move dangerous sex offenders into communities"
As the principal petitioner, Heather has joined with the petition sponsor State Member for Burnett, Rob Messenger to create an E-petition, which can be found at the Qld Parliament website. The petition calls on the Government to create a public register of sex offenders providing in part that "every parent has the right to know if a dangerous sexual predator moves into their community."
Ms Steinberg believes that if a person assaults a child and is found to be a Dangerous Sex offender as a consequence of that conduct, they should have their details placed on a public register.
She goes further to say that "protection of children outweighs the right of the offender and that we should increase the protection of children through knowledge. Knowledge of who the offender is, where they live and what they look like."
Ms Steinberg supports the combination of a tracking and notification system which means police and the public can develop plans, safety programs and victimisation prevention strategies to prepare for the presence of the offender in the community.
In hand with public consultation means reduced chance of vigilantes and community rallies. "It is only a matter of time before the Government leaves itself open to civil action for its breach of duty of care to children" she states.
She urges all Queenslanders to get behind the petition and support the right to notification of the presence of a dangerous sex offender in the community.
Heather has also commenced what she believes is the first ever service offered in Australia dedicated solely to Child Victims and Witnesses of criminal offences. The Child Victim Legal Service ( operated in conjunction with her law practice ) allows child victims or child witnesses of criminal offences access to their own independent legal representative to oversee their cases.
Heather says she established the service because she was tired of hearing and reading about child victims and their families being left in the dark. "In a lot of cases, the victims are the last to know about plea bargains and reduction in charges. This service will keep the victims and their families advised of each step along the way". |
