George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

There is, I know, a very active public debate about whether the register ought to be a public register, and there are strong arguments advanced by those, including the Morcombes, why that should be so. There are also strong arguments why the register ought to be confined to the police and the policing and law enforcement authorities.

What I am sure you will agree with me is most important, Senator Lazarus, is that people who are sex offenders—and in particular those sex offenders who may have a greater propensity than others to reoffend—be under the constant scrutiny and surveillance of the police. The National Child Offenders System that has been running in this country for 10 years now under the supervision of the Commonwealth government, or with the leadership of the Commonwealth government, achieves that objective.