Thaindian News

Melbourne, Mar 24 (ANI): A Queensland MP’s call to microchip and castrate convicted child sex offenders, has been rejected by child protection advocates.

Sunshine Coast MP Peter Wellington suggested the measures during a debate on child protection laws in parliament, angering civil libertarians.

“Why can we not jolly well microchip these people if they are convicted of serious sex offences?” News.com.au quoted Wellington as saying.

“What is wrong with castration of these people? What is wrong with it? Why are we so concerned we cannot castrate them?

“I say, let’s jolly well do it,” he said.

He said his views were shaped by a case before the courts involving a “very young girl” who had been “preyed upon”.

Child protection campaigner Hetty Johnston welcomed Wellington’s “passion” but said it did not go to the heart of the issue.

“Clearly, he is a man who understands how dangerous child sex offenders are,” Johnston said.

“But the question is not what will we do with them once we release them, it’s why on earth are we releasing people who are so dangerous who need microchipping or castrating,” she stated.

Johnston said castration would reduce offenders’ desire but would not eliminate it.

“There are more than one way to sexually assault a child, and castration won’t take away the psychological desire offenders have,” she said.

“They are dangerous and will offend again. I believe they shouldn’t be released into the community again,” she stated.

She said microchipping was a tracking option but would not stop re-offending.

“As a community we need to ask ourselves do we want our children to be the priority, or do we want the freedom of these child sex offenders to be a priority?” she added. (ANI)