The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has defended the decision to adopt a closed sex offenders registry under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, warning that fully public databases can fuel vigilantism, drive offenders underground, and inflict lasting harm on innocent family members, particularly children.
According to the Ministry, experience in several jurisdictions has shown that open registries can lead to offenders going into hiding, acts of vigilante retaliation, and social and emotional harm to relatives who bear no responsibility for the offences committed. Children, in particular, may face bullying, discrimination and ostracism because of their association with an offender.
The Ministry said these concerns were among the reasons a closed registry model received overwhelming support during an extensive national consultation process that informed the proposed amendments. More than 60 civil society organisations, members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, prosecutors, police and faith-based organisations participated in consultations, while the draft legislation remained publicly available on the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ website for two years to facilitate public review and recommendations.
Contrary to claims circulating publicly, the Ministry said the registry will not be inaccessible. Instead, the legislation establishes a formal process through which members of the public may apply for information on individuals listed in the registry, subject to legal requirements and safeguards. The Bill also imposes penalties for the unauthorised disclosure of registry information.
The proposed registry forms part of a broader package of reforms contained in the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026. The amendments seek to strengthen protections for victims of sexual offences, streamline procedures for handling such matters before the courts, and remove any limitation period for prosecuting sexual offences.
The Ministry noted that the registry is only one component of a wider monitoring framework that requires registered offenders to report regularly to the police and notify authorities of movements into and out of communities. The legislation also provides lawful channels through which parents, guardians and employers in child-related settings may apply for relevant information where safety concerns arise.
The Ministry said the amendments represent a significant step towards strengthening public safety, enhancing protections for vulnerable persons and improving the administration of justice, while maintaining a balanced and evidence-based approach to managing the risks posed by sexual offenders.
