A proposed public online register of sex offenders in the Northern Territory may be revived despite an apparent promise to ditch it in return for an independent’s support in a no-confidence motion.
On Wednesday the NT attorney general, John Elferink, announced a series of last minute community forums on the bill beginning on Friday, and invited public feedback by email.
“One of the particular objections that some people had was that it wasn’t widely consulted enough last year,” Elferink said on Wednesday. “I don’t necessarily agree with that but I agreed to go through a further consultation process.”
The government would then determine what next step to take.
The bill – called “Daniel’s law” after the son of Bruce and Denise Morcombe who was murdered in 2003 – has been criticised by legal and victims groups and statutory bodies, who said Elferink did not consult them while drafting the bill.
At the end of last year the government survived a no-confidence motion when an Independent MLA, Gerry Wood, abstained from voting after he was assured of what he understood would be a complete withdrawal of the Daniel’s law bill.
“No one said never, but the impression I got was it was going to be withdrawn,” Wood said on Thursday. “I got that from the chief minister, and I never got the feeling John Elferink was happy with that decision.”
However, Elferink said he only committed “to withdraw pending further consultation, and that’s what’s happening”, he said.
Based on Megan’s law in the US, it is feared the NT register would have similar consequences which include the danger of identifying victims and a potential increase in vigilantism. Elferink has repeatedly dismissed concerns, saying he was “compelled” to introduce the bill.
Last year he said each case would be individually assessed to ensure a victim’s privacy was protected.
“Perhaps greater safeguards are needed – well that’s what the consultation process will reveal,” he said.
Wood was among those to criticise the bill, and said there was already a non-public register and “pretty severe” legislation to monitor and deal with sex offenders.
“Any legislation that puts innocent people – especially children – at risk is bad legislation,” he said.
“It’s a pity the Morcombes have been brought into it. We’ve got a lot of sympathy for the Morcombe family but that doesn’t mean we’ve got sympathy for the bill.”
Wood said Elferink’s lack of consultation until now led him to think the bill was more of a “personal statement”.
“Whilst I’m happy there is some consultation occurring, I think it’s going to be more about the minister’s version of this whole concept rather than a proper forum where other groups … have equal time to put forward their views and concerns,” he said.
He remained opposed to the bill in its current form and without the support of stakeholders. He would not be drawn on whether if it was reintroduced unchanged he would vote against the government in another no-confidence motion.
The shadow attorney general, Lynne Walker, accused the government of ignoring expert advice.
“No other jurisdiction in the country supports this legislation and key experts continue to actively oppose it,” she said. “The CLP government are ignoring the advice and refuse to listen, proving they simply can’t be trusted.”
The NT Speaker, Kezia Purick, said the bill could be introduced as early as February, for debate in March. The government would face an uproar if it tried to rush the bill through earlier.
“[Elferink] is yet to explain how this actually will stop future incidents,” Purick, a former CLP member turned independent, said.
She accused Elferink of being “hysterical” about a bill which he wanted to pass as a “legacy” before retiring at the next election.
