Opposition Moves To Close Child Sex Offender Consorting Loophole

Media Release | 12 March 2026

Nick Goiran MLC

Shadow Attorney-General; Child Protection

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The Liberal Party will today introduce legislation to close a dangerous loophole that

currently allows convicted child sex offenders in Western Australia to associate with

each other without police being able to intervene.

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The Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026 will amend the

Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021 to ensure police

can issue unlawful consorting notices to disrupt offenders associating with each other

before another child is harmed.

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Under the current law, police can only issue an unlawful consorting notice if they

believe it is necessary to prevent an indictable offence. However, many child sex

offences are classified as summary offences, meaning police are currently powerless

to act even when convicted offenders are associating in circumstances that raise

serious concerns.

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Shadow Attorney General Nick Goiran said the problem was highlighted in a report by

the WA Ombudsman last year, which revealed a glaring failure in the existing

legislation.

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“Western Australians would be shocked to learn that 1,069 convicted child sex

offenders were assessed under the current law and not a single one met the threshold

for police to issue an unlawful consorting notice,” Mr Goiran said.

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“This Bill fixes that gap and ensures police can disrupt child sex offenders networking

with each other before another crime occurs.”

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The Bill extends the unlawful consorting provisions so that notices can also be issued to

disrupt conduct constituting child sex offences, not just indictable offences.

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It also ensures that child sex offences committed outside Western Australia, including

overseas, can be considered when assessing whether an unlawful consorting notice

should be issued.

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In addition, the legislation removes statutory defences that currently allow offenders to

argue that their consorting occurred in the course of activities connected with union

business.

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Contact: Graham Mason 0419 194 792

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