AUSTRALIA
The Age
Richard Willingham
Sexual predators will face up to 10 years in prison for grooming children for sex under new laws to be introduced in the Victorian Parliament.
In response to the Betrayal of Trust parliamentary investigation into child sexual abuse and Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry, the laws will prohibit adults from communicating, in any way, with a child under the age of 16 for the purpose of sex.
”Grooming” is when an offender tries to facilitate the involvement of a child in sexual activity. Attorney-General Robert Clark said the grooming laws would apply to any communication by an adult with a child, parent or carer intended to facilitate involving the child in a sexual offence.
Importantly the law will allow police to intercept predators based on communications rather than have to set up a ”sting” to catch paedophiles. The offence is not contingent on sexual abuse having occurred or even attempted.
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