Mrs DRAPER(7.45 p.m.) —It pleases me to be able to speak tonight about a matter which is very close to my heart. For many years now I have been campaigning for tougher penalties to be imposed on paedophiles. The damage that these criminals do to young children cannot be overestimated. I have seen and heard of many terrible stories about children who are left scarred for life as a result of being preyed upon by a paedophile.

The federal government recognises the importance of this issue and has announced that it will step up the fight against paedophilia through a new national strategy. On behalf of my constituents of Makin, I wish to thank the Minister for Family Services (Mrs Moylan) for her announcement of the soon to be established National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The minister has shown great understanding of this issue in making such an announcement. I have long argued for the establishment of a national approach to combat paedophilia, and I am pleased that this will finally come about, thanks to Minister Moylan and the Howard government.

As a sure sign that this government is to get tough on paedophiles, the minister has already announced that the federal government will be closing any loopholes through which paedophiles may escape or continue to prey upon children. The government will introduce legislation to ensure that a protective order issued in one state will have effect in other states. This will provide greater safety for a child should he or she be moved to another state. A register of convicted paedophiles will also be established to assist police and the community in the fight against this horrendous crime.

It is my understanding that the first task of the National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse will be to examine the recommendations of the Wood report into paedophilia in New South Wales. Justice James Wood has recently released this report after extensive investigation of the issue during Australia's first royal commission into paedophilia. The report highlights the need for national action, as does the recently released report by the Queensland Commissioner for Children.

The Wood report identified the actions of paedophile groups that abused children and used the Internet to communicate. The community has a right to expect action to be taken to stop the insidious actions of paedophile networks, and this government is committed to providing that action, in conjunction with the states and territories.

One recommendation in the Wood report that does concern me is in relation to the lowering of the age of consent for homosexual sex. If adopted, this would allow homosexual sex with young people as young as 16 years of age. This raises the question as to whether a paedophile could claim consenting homosexual sex with a 14-year-old and use the defence that he or she thought the young person was really 16 years of age. I am deeply concerned by this recommendation and call for its outright rejection by all members of this House and the general public. I believe that it is wrong to be recommending a reduction in the age of consent for homosexual sex, which would provide an avenue for paedophiles to avoid justice, in a report which is highlighting the tragedy suffered by the victims of paedophiles and their families. Our aim must be directed towards the identification and prosecution of paedophiles, not providing them with potential avenues for avoiding justice.

As a society, we cannot continue to turn the other cheek and ignore this national problem. It requires, and as from today it will receive, national attention. I commend the announcement by the Minister for Family Services and look forward to the prosecution and conviction of child sexual abusers. Our community will be safer when the paedophiles have received justice for their hideous crimes against innocent children.