Each time The Examiner publishes a story about a sex offence in Tasmania, whether it involves the possession of child exploitation material or the indecent assault of a minor, the reaction is instantaneous and predictable. Alongside anger and disgust comes a familiar demand from comments sent to us, or on social media: Name them. Shame them, show their faces. Why? So the community can "deal" with them.

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I get it, it's an understandable instinct. When harm is done, particularly to children, the desire for visible accountability is visceral. Following through on that instinct might make those who love people who were harmed feel something. But would satisfying that instinct serve justice, or protect the community?

The stories we publish on sex offenders shake public confidence and invite the question: why can't we have a more transparent system?

The answer lies in how Tasmania's legislation and, more broadly, our nation balances transparency with control.

Our mechanism, the Community Protection Offender Register, is not public. It is a law enforcement tool designed to monitor offenders and prevent further harm. Social media critics argue that secrecy leaves communities exposed, and that's a compelling argument. But that's only part of the picture.

Recent reforms, including Daniel's Law, have introduced targeted pathways for disclosure. Parents and guardians can request information about individuals who have regular, unsupervised access to their children. Police can disclose details when a credible risk exists. And in rare cases, such as when a high-risk offender cannot be located, authorities are permitted under the legislation to alert the broader public.

Our system is not based on the raw exposure of a sex offender's whereabouts. It is built on controlled, purposeful sharing targeted at the individuals who would most likely be affected if they were not informed.

Compare this with the United States. The US public registries allow anyone to search for offenders by name or location, often revealing photos, addresses and detailed histories. It is transparency at its most expansive, which some would argue is dangerous.

The argument for the US system is that the public access it provides empowers individuals. But it also invites misuse. Vigilantism, despite legal warnings, remains a constant issue. There are many documented cases of harassment and forced relocation. The argument is that the sex offender deserves nothing but that type of treatment. What goes unsaid, though, is that in many cases, offenders given the vigilante treatment disappear from the system altogether. They go underground rather than face relentless scrutiny, and therefore can't be monitored by the authorities.

That outcome should concern anyone interested in public safety. A person who cannot be tracked is far more dangerous than one who is monitored.

None of this will satisfy those who believe full transparency is the only answer. And it's true: the current system is not perfect. Cases like the rehired Northern Tasmanian educator, which The Examiner exposed, did not make it through our court system, revealing gaps that demand scrutiny and reform.

But importing a model built on public exposure risks replacing a controlled system with an unpredictable one. Tasmania's approach is more restrained, and at times frustratingly so. But in the long run, a system that prioritises safety over spectacle is one worth upholding.

Craig Thomson is the editor of The Examiner.

Tributes & Funerals Notices

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