❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Attorney General about Christopher John Bentley, a dangerous sex offender, living in the community in taxpayer-funded housing, despite promises to protect the public. The Attorney General defends the situation by citing court orders and policy requiring secure housing for released offenders.
AnsweredQoN 17Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHRISTOPHER JOHN BENTLEY —
PRISON RELEASE
17. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Attorney General:
I
have a supplementary question. The Attorney General promised to protect the
people of Western Australia from dangerous sex offenders, including
promising to march down to the Supreme Court to do so, so why is Christopher
John Bentley living in the community in taxpayer-funded housing?
PRISON RELEASE
17. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Attorney General:
I
have a supplementary question. The Attorney General promised to protect the
people of Western Australia from dangerous sex offenders, including
promising to march down to the Supreme Court to do so, so why is Christopher
John Bentley living in the community in taxpayer-funded housing?
AnswerView source ↗
Christopher John Bentley was released
on order of the Supreme Court under the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act. The
situation is that under the previous government, and continued under this
government, safe housing has to be found for these people so that they are not
roaming around. This was the policy supported by the Leader of the Opposition
when she was the police minister in the previous government. What has happened
and why the heat has gone out of the dangerous sex offenders debate is that the
McGowan Labor government substantially changed the law, reversing the onus of
proof and requiring a person such as Bentley to satisfy the court on the
balance of probabilities that they will comply with primary orders, and the
court is so satisfied. It is up to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The
Leader of the Opposition shakes her head, but in government she supported the
proposition that dangerous sex offenders, once released, have to be found
secure housing away from children and away from people. That is the situation.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
on order of the Supreme Court under the Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act. The
situation is that under the previous government, and continued under this
government, safe housing has to be found for these people so that they are not
roaming around. This was the policy supported by the Leader of the Opposition
when she was the police minister in the previous government. What has happened
and why the heat has gone out of the dangerous sex offenders debate is that the
McGowan Labor government substantially changed the law, reversing the onus of
proof and requiring a person such as Bentley to satisfy the court on the
balance of probabilities that they will comply with primary orders, and the
court is so satisfied. It is up to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The
Leader of the Opposition shakes her head, but in government she supported the
proposition that dangerous sex offenders, once released, have to be found
secure housing away from children and away from people. That is the situation.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
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