'The worst of the worst': Calls for national public register of convicted sex offenders
Back when Derryn Hinch was a broadcaster, former Hey Dad! actress Sarah Monahan pulled out her phone, typed in the words 'sex offender' and showed him what came up.
On the screen were about 15 flags where convicted sex offenders were in her US neighbourhood.
Under Megan's Law in the US, it showed their names, addresses and crimes next to a photo.
Senator Derryn Hinch wants a public register for convicted sex offenders. Photo: AAP
"We got in the car and drove past one of their houses and people weren't throwing molotov cocktails at it," Senator Hinch told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday about his experience with the victim of Hey Dad actor Robert Hughes.
Hughes on Wednesday failed in his high court appeal against a six-year sentence for his conviction over child sex offencesHughes on Wednesday failed in his high court appeal against a six-year sentence for his conviction over child sex offences. Ms Monahan was one of four victims.
"It was an ordinary looking house with a flag on the front porch, a well-cut lawn and a pick-up truck in the driveway," Hinch explained.
People in the area just knew not to let children go door knocking at the house and if your ball went over the fence, dad would go in and fetch it.
Senator Hinch wants the same to happen in Australia and he's teamed up with justice campaigners Bruce and Denise Morcombe to re-launch his petition for a national public register of convicted sex offenders.
It would be called Daniel's Law, in honour of the Morcombes' son who was abducted and murdered by child sex offender Brett Peter Cowan in 2003.
Bruce Morcombe said offenders should have their names up in lights for what they have done.
Daniel Morocombe was murdered by a sex offender. Photo: AAP
"You are the worst of the worst," he said.
Mr Morcombe hopes the register would act as a deterrent.
"If you are a person that has a warped interest in young children, you need to seek help," he said.
"They're not going to get a slap on the wrist through the courts, their name has the potential to be listed on this website forever and surely as a human being you don't want to go there."
Senator Hinch, who recently secured government support for new laws to cancel the passports of Australian paedophiles, hopes the states will agree to the new federal register.
He expects it would take two years to get it up and running once approved.
And to the civil libertarians, who he anticipates will "bleat on" about it, he has one message: "When you rape a child you lose your civil rights".
