Website ‘name and shame’ file supported

‘It is about protecting the women that live in our area,’ she said at last week’s council meeting.

‘We have had 14-year-old girls come to us crying, saying they are being accosted (for sex).

‘We have an obligation to provide protection to these women.’

Councillors, excluding Cr Matt Buckels and Cr Dudley Maier, voted in favour of Ms MacTiernan’s motion, which will keep the offenders’ names on the site for six months from the date of conviction.

‘I support public naming and shaming of adult men who approach street prostitutes ” they make a conscious decision to come to this area,’ Cr John Carey said.

‘I want them (offenders) to think about the potential humiliation if their names are published. What will their family, friends and co-workers think?

‘There may be some who will think of this as a deterrent.’

Cr Roslyn Harley reluctantly approved the motion. ‘I do think these people deserve the punishment coming to them but I don’t support the idea that the sins of the father should be passed to the wife and children,’ she said.

‘I’m supporting it because I hope this will be the first and last time we have to do this.’

Cr Maier said he worried innocent people could be misidentified and the City sued. But CEO John Giorgi said as long as offenders’ details came from the courts, the City would not be exposed to legal action.

Cr Buckels said he felt the City’s surveillance measures were already deterring the unlawful behaviour.

Ms MacTiernan added that many of the offenders were married and she worried about the spouses. ‘I’m concerned some of these girls (prostitutes) are prepared to have cheap, unprotected sex and the impact on wives is considerable,’ she said.

‘Wives have the right to know.’

Council will review the decision in a year.