Child Sex Offences

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding child sex offences.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In May last year, there were a number of articles which came to public attention about the increased prevalence of 'sextortion', where a minor is convinced by another party online to share nude photos and then blackmailed into paying the other person in order for them to not share the nude photo at large.

1. Can the Attorney-General outline what actions the government has taken since May last year to address these sorts of crimes?

2. Is there a form of government education to enforce protections for minors who may be at risk?

3. What reparations would be available for minors who have been victims of sextortion?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her question. Certainly, one area that we are currently looking at as a government is the new forms of technology and the ways that can involve, particularly in sex offences, increasing victimisation and creating new victims. With every evolving method of communication, there are new ways that we certainly have to look at how that might change the laws that we have and that we apply.

In relation to what support or what might be available to victims, there are a range of things that would be offences already in terms of the production of illicit material involving a child. If someone is convicted in relation to that there is an ability to apply in terms of the victims of crime compensation scheme. There is also a possibility of a request for ex gratia payments under that scheme.