Australia has announced plans to revoke the passports of convicted pedophiles so that they are unable to leave the country. The move is an attempt to protect children in Southeast Asia from exploitation.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is planning to cancel around 20,000 passports that are currently open for convicted pedophiles. Last year around 800 registered child sex offenders left Australia and half of them went on to Southeast Asian countries.
“There has been increasing community concern about sexual exploitation of vulnerable children and community concern is justified. There will be new legislation which will make Australia a world leader in protecting vulnerable children in our region from child sex tourism.”
Australia has previously introduced a law that Australian citizens who molest children overseas can be sent to prison for up to 25 years.
