LNP chase answers on Fardon

THE State Opposition wants the Palaszczuk Government to reveal if notorious sex offender Robert John Fardon will return to the Gold Coast after his supervision order expires.

LNP MPs at State Parliament yesterday targeted the Government about Fardon’s future and Labor’s refusal to support its tougher sex offender laws.

The LNP laws would mean all sex offenders, not just child sex offenders, would be monitored by GPS tracking until their deaths.

Opposition Police spokesman Trevor Watts asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk which neighbourhoods the sex offenders would be housed, which included Fardon.

“Will Queenslanders be told who their new neighbours are,” Mr Watts said.

The question was ruled out of order by Speaker Curtis Pitt, and Premier Palaszczuk returned fire on LNP leader Deb Frecklington for the Opposition’s political strategy.

The Premier defended Labor’s planned law reforms to protect Queenslanders from child sex offenders but she declined to answer a series of questions about Fardon maintaining her answers could impact on Government legal action.

After receiving legal advice, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has indicated the Government would appeal the rejection of its bid to keep Fardon supervised.

Fardon’s alleged victims include a 69-year-old Gold Coast woman who has predicted he would return to the tourist strip.