Judge orders state to protect rapist’s privacy

THE State Government is being told to keep the location of serial rapist Robert John Fardon confidential after his release into the community, and for taxpayers to help pay for his accommodation.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties vice-president Terry O’Gorman yesterday called on the Government to address two important issues – his accommodation and financial welfare – before Fardon was released in October.

The Government is seeking legal advice on whether it can appeal a Supreme Court decision rejecting the State maintaining supervision of Fardon.

Child safety advocates are among those telling the Government Fardon’s future address should be made public.

Mr O’Gorman told the Bulletin he feared “a repeat of the Dennis Ferguson vigilante fiasco” when the convicted paedophile faced public scrutiny after his release from prison.

Ferguson served 14 years in jail in Queensland for the abduction and sexual assault of three children – aged six, seven and eight – at a Brisbane motel and after his release in 2004 was forced to change address after neighbours identified him.

“At the time in 2005, then Premier (Peter) Beattie said the media was to blame for inflaming a vigilante attitude wherever Ferguson appeared,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“Justice Jackson’s judgment earlier this week notes that as a pensioner, Mr Fardon cannot voluntarily continue the psychological counselling which he has had in detention for a number of years,” he said.

“It is incumbent on the Corrective Services Minister to provide financial assistance to Mr Fardon on his release both for continued counselling and suitable accommodation in order to make good in practice the psychiatric opinion on which Justice Jackson acted earlier this week, namely that Fardon poses a low risk of reoffending.”