It’s time to stop protecting the privacy of sex criminals and start protecting innocent people in our community. Australia needs to implement a public register for convicted sex offenders.

A sexual crime of any nature is a sensitive issue, but the tragedy is amplified when it involves innocent children and adults who have been indecently assaulted, sexually abused or raped.

Media personality Derryn Hinch is no stranger to the controversy that often surrounds cases of this nature. Last week he was found guilty of breaching a court order for publishing tweets and blog posts about Jill Meagher’s killer, Adrian Ernest Bailey, during Bailey’s court case.

Hinch has also launched an online petition calling for a public register for convicted sex offenders. Over 26,000 signatures have been collected and he intends to submit the petition to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

On a recent episode of Sunday Night, Hinch highlighted the story of an Australian mother whose de facto partner raped her young daughter.

The mother, named Angela, recorded her partner’s confession that saw him ultimately convicted. However, Angela’s ex could be free in a few months.

This means he would be anonymously released back into the community. Meanwhile, Angela and her family would be entirely unaware of his movements.

He could move nearby or pack his bags and move to another town where he could possibly re-offend.

Angela’s story is one of many that illustrates the injustice that can occur within Australia’s judicial system – a system that suppresses the names, photos and addresses of offenders once they are released.

All of their horrific acts are removed from public scrutiny.

However, this vicious cycle can end.

Sexual abuse sentencing in Australia has received criticism for having a “soft” approach.

If we can’t have tougher laws, then convicted sex offenders should be placed on a national sex offender register so the public would know who and where they are.

Some might argue that a national sex offender register may cause vigilante attacks. However, as we’ve seen in Western Australia, this is unlikely.

The sex offender register in WA is the first of its kind in Australia and initially it received scrutiny. WA Police Minister Liza Harvey stated the public has warmed to its effectiveness in helping to protect the community.

The Queensland government is also considering granting public access to information about sex offenders.

Despite WA’s successful implementation though, criticism of the register continues to mount.

Many still believe sex offenders needn’t be vilified but this is short-sighted.

What about the offenders who continue to breach their parole terms and re-offend? The ones who laugh at our shambles of a judicial system that has failed innocent people? The sex offenders who have killed while on parole?

The most recent Victoria Police crime statistics report indicates there have been 1,985 rapes in the 2012/13 financial year. There has also been a rise of 2.4 per cent of sex (non-rape) offences in Victoria.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research March quarterly report reveals sexual assault went up by 19.4 per cent in the mid-north coast region of New South Wales. In fact, this report specifies sexual assault has gone up by 130 per cent in NSW since the 1990s.

These are worrying statistics.

Some say a public register may lead to higher reoffending rates. However, this theory is reckless and is one of the biggest problems in tackling sexual abuse.

If Australia had a tougher approach to sex offenders, a potential offender might think twice before committing one of the most despicable and heinous of crimes.

By no means will a register stop all sex offenders from committing crimes, however, it will send a clear message that Australia will take a stronger stance against sexual abuse and will ensure a zero tolerance approach to serial offenders.

Ultimately, this is about protecting and making the community aware of its surroundings. It’s about making our society safe.

Victim’s rights should not come second to the rights of offenders.

If rehabilitation programs fail and an offender continues to break the law and commits sexual crimes again and again, will they ever change for the better?

This is a risk Australia should not take anymore.

The government should be stringent about the issue of sexual abuse, adopt a policy with tougher sentencing and fund campaigns and programs so it can educate and protect all Australians.

The law must change. It’s time to toughen up.

Mandi Santic is a third year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University, and a staff writer for upstart. You can follow her on Twitter: @candidmandi

Image source (c) morgueFile