Media Releases
The Shameful Epidemic Of Aussie Child-Sex Tourism
Over the last year, unprecedented numbers of Australians have been arrested for child-sex tourism. Bernadette McMenamin, CEO of Australias leading international child protection agency, believes that Australia is exporting more sex offenders than ever before. These recent arrests and prosecutions are only the tip of the iceberg and thousands of Australians are abusing children overseas.
In the last year the following Australians have been investigated, arrested or prosecuted for child-sex offences committed overseas:
1.Don Hancock (Teacher) Committed suicide in Surabaya, Indonesia. Believed to be part of a paedophile network.
2.Peter Smith (Teacher) Arrested on multiple counts of child sexual abuse in Jakarta. Believed to be part of a paedophile network.
3.Donald Storen (Bar owner) Arrested for alleged child-sex offences in Lombok, Indonesia.
4.Paul Thompson (Junior cricket development officer) Convicted sex offender arrested in Thailand and previously deported from Bali earlier in 2006.
5.Simon Vizard (Photographer) Convicted and jailed for multiple child-sex offences in Mexico.
6.Jason Mizner (Teacher) Arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a two-year-old child in Thailand.
7.Damien Walker (Teacher/Development worker) Convicted for child-sex abuse in Cambodia
8.Charles White (Volunteer for street children) Wanted for alleged child-sex offences in Vietnam.
9.Barry Glenn Illes (Tourist) Arrested in Australia for alleged child-sex tourism offences in South East Asia. Currently being prosecuted.
10.Gregory Cook (Tourist) Arrested and deported back to Australia after being convicted for child-sex offences in Vietnam
11.Ronald King (Tourist) Convicted in Australia for importing child pornography.
12.John Mountford (Teacher/chaplain) Extradited from Thailand to face alleged child-sex offence charges in South Australia.
13.Leon Wicks (SES worker) Pleaded guilty in Australia to having sex with boys in Thailand.
14.Peter Sage (Pensioner) Convicted and jailed in Australia for child-sex offences committed in the Philippines.
15.Clyde Shoebridge (Pensioner) Charged with child pornography in the Philippines.
16.Unnamed 73 year old Currently being prosecuted in Australia for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old housemaid in the Philippines.
17.Werner Wulf Extradited from Australia to India to face alleged child-sex tourism charges as part of a paedophile network.
18.Robert Scoble (Ex-diplomat) Convicted for distributing child pornography in Thailand.
Bernadette McMenamin states, Child-sex tourism is rapidly escalating and is now a shameful epidemic. Regrettably, Australians have developed an international reputation as travelling child-sex offenders. Child Wise believes that increasing numbers of child-sex offenders are moving overseas to live and work due to tougher laws and screening in Australia. It is clear that very serious child-sex offenders are changing their names, moving overseas and settling into vulnerable communities where they hope to gain easy access to children. Australia is displacing its child-sex problem overseas. Recent cases reveal that child-sex offenders are infiltrating English-language training centres, international schools, orphanages, street kids centres and other development agencies overseas. Organisations are targets and are extremely vulnerable when they do not implement careful screening processes. Child Wise is calling for Australia to adopt a new highly successful ASEAN education campaign which encourages concerned citizens to report travelling child-sex offenders to dedicated hotlines:Dont Turn AwayTurn them In.
For an interview or more information, please contact Bernadette McMenamin, CEO Child Wise