Accused, convicted child sex offenders ban in workplaces with child employees
South Australia's expanded ban on convicted or accused child sex offenders in the workplace has begun taking effect this month.
Under the ban, registered child sex offenders, as well as people charged with registrable child sex offences, are now prohibited from working alongside child employees.
They are also prohibited in businesses where they would be in contact with underage employees.
"It's a significant step forward that recognises the importance of protecting those young people who have joined the workforce, and providing peace of mind to their parents that they will be safe at work," SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher said in a statement.
The ban is an expanded version of the state's previous rule, which only prohibited accused or convicted registered child sex offenders in workplaces where children were the subject of the work.
"The important expansion of this new change now more broadly captures areas and workplaces where an accused or convicted employee would be in contact with child employees in that same workplace, better protecting children in their place of work," Maher said.
"These reforms now see South Australia with the toughest restrictions in the nation for those accused of committing a registrable child sex offence working with child employees."
Josh Peak, Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) SA, said the new laws will be critical in ensuring the safety of young workers in retail and fast food.
"There have been far too many incidents where managers charged with child sex offences have been allowed to continue working alongside young workers," Peak said in a statement.
"It's great to see the Attorney-General Kyam Maher and Connie Bonaros MLC work together to take action to keep young workers safe."
