Introducing compulsory treatment for sex offenders was a key election commitment by the Liberals and we are delivering on it.
The difference between the Hodgman Liberal Government’s tough-on-crime stance and that of the former Labor-Green government was spelled out for all to see in Estimates today with Greens MP Nick McKim calling for compulsory treatment for sex offenders to be dropped.
The Tasmanian community has been appalled at past revelations that serious sex offenders can currently elect not to take part in any treatment or rehabilitation while in jail.
The public would be equally appalled by Mr McKim’s call that sex offenders should continue to be able to opt out of treatment when he called on the Government to drop our election commitment.
Work is underway to implement the first stage of the Government’s commitment to introduce compulsory treatment for all sex offenders in prison.
The Government is working on amendments to the Corrections Act 1997 and Corrections Regulations 2008 to insert new provisions to ensure that participation in appropriate treatment must be taken into account by the Parole Board when deciding whether to grant parole to a convicted sex offender, and to remove eligibility for remission for convicted sex offenders who refuse to participate in treatment.
These amendments are the first steps in introducing the Government’s commitment to make it compulsory for all sex offenders to receive appropriate treatment when they are in prison. We will consult with relevant stakeholders in the development of these amendments.
Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for Corrections
