Submissions on Bill to prevent child sex offender name changes open

The Government is inviting public submissions on a Bill which seeks to prevent child sex offenders from changing their name. Submissions close on 3 February 2015.

The Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration (Preventing Name Change by Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 15 October 2015. It is a Private Member's Bill brought by National Party MP Dr Jian Yang. The Bill passed its first reading on 2 December 2015. The Bill aims to "protect vulnerable members of society from child sex offenders by preventing those individuals convicted of a child sex offence from changing their name."

The Select Committee's report is due on 2 June 2016.

A select committee is also currently considering submissions on the proposal to establish a child sex offender register. The committee is due to report back on 15 March 2016.