Australia to ban paedophiles from travelling overseas

Australia to ban paedophiles from travelling overseas

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop speaks at a press conference in Sydney, Australia, May 4, 2017. Ms Bishop said Tuesday she would cancel the passports of around 20,000 paedophiles on the national child sex offender register under legislation that will be introduced to Parliament soon. (Reuters photo)
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop speaks at a press conference in Sydney, Australia, May 4, 2017. Ms Bishop said Tuesday she would cancel the passports of around 20,000 paedophiles on the national child sex offender register under legislation that will be introduced to Parliament soon. (Reuters photo)

CANBERRA -- Australia plans to ban convicted paedophiles from travelling overseas in what the government says is a world-first move to protect vulnerable children in Southeast Asia from exploitation.

Australian paedophiles are notorious for taking inexpensive vacations to nearby Southeast Asian and Pacific island countries to abuse children there.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday she would cancel the passports of around 20,000 paedophiles on the national child sex offender register under legislation that will be introduced to Parliament soon.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan says no country has introduced such a travel ban. He says 2,500 new convicted paedophiles will be added to the sex offender register each year and will lose their passports.

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