In response to Craig Thomson’s opinion piece “The dangerous appeal of naming and shaming sex offenders and vigilantism” (The Examiner, 29 March 2026), I must disagree.
Leniency to the criminal is injustice to the victim. Tasmania’s approach to paedophiles remains far too soft. Offenders convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material or indecently assaulting children are routinely given short sentences and released early. Our system treats paedophilia as a minor, treatable lapse rather than the lifelong deviant attraction it is.
Once a child is harmed, that trauma stays with them for life. Yet the justice system appears more worried about the offender’s privacy and rehabilitation than the victim’s permanent suffering.
Mr Thomson warns that greater transparency risks vigilantism and drives offenders underground. The real solution is not secrecy or controlled disclosure, but proper punishment. Meaningful, long jail terms that reflect the lifelong harm caused would reduce the community’s frustration and the temptation for vigilante action.
Tasmania must shift its focus from shielding offenders to genuinely safeguarding children. It is time to end the slap-on-the-wrist culture and deliver real accountability.
Dr. Elizabeth Caballero
Women Speak Tasmania
Letter to The Examiner published on 05.04.26
