CANBERRA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton has called for a public national register of child sex offenders.
Dutton on Wednesday wrote to state and territory governments asking them to support his proposal, which would make the name, appearance and general location of convicted child sex offenders available online.
"It would have a strong deterrent effect on offenders and ensure that parents are not in the dark about whether a registered sex offender has access to their children," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The abuse and exploitation of children is a global epidemic that is becoming more prevalent, more organized and more extreme.
"Thwarting that exploitation is a key priority for me as minister for home affairs. I have always fought for the protection of children and this is a battle we must win."
Under the plan, the details of juvenile offenders would not be included on the register.
He said that a national database would prevent any offenders from evading public scrutiny.
Senator Derryn Hinch, a long-time proponent of a public register, on Wednesday said Dutton's plan should go further to include the offenders' addresses.
"I can die happy, this is the only reason I got into politics," he told reporters.
"If you rape a child, you lose your civil rights."
