Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

The government is committed to protecting children from sexual predators. The government wants the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill 2017 to be debated and passed. However, at present, Labor and the Greens don't support the bill and its tougher penalties for child sex offenders. Mandatory minimum sentencing, combined with other measures in this bill, ensure that child sex predators receive appropriate sentences and are in prison so that they are no longer a threat to children. We call on Labor and the crossbench to support the bill.