Western Australia bill

Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026

WASecond ReadingMetadata only

Zoe only has APH summary and progress metadata for this Bill. Deep analysis is withheld until official Bill text or explanatory material is available.

Jurisdiction

Western Australia

Making Date

2026-03-12

Collection

bill

Parliamentary Progress

IntroducedFirst ReadingSecond ReadingCommitteePassed HousePassed SenatePassed BothRoyal Assent

Plain English Summary

3/10 complexity

**What this Bill changes (mechanically)

Adds "child sex offence" to the categories of offending that trigger the unlawful-consorting rules in the Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021. Specifically, it replaces language in section 9(1)(c) and section 17(3)(b) that previously referred only to an "indictable offence" with wording that covers an "indictable offence or child sex offence." (See s.4 and s.5 of the Bill.)
Expands the definition of the relevant conduct so that it expressly includes conduct engaged in outside Western Australia (including outside Australia) where, if that conduct had occurred in Western Australia, it would amount to an indictable offence or a child sex offence. This is done by replacing section 9(2) of the principal Act with a new paragraph to that effect. (See s.4(2) of the Bill.)
Deletes two specific subparagraphs from the principal Act: section 18(2)(a)(viii) and section 43(2)(a)(viii). The Bill does not show the text of those deleted subparagraphs; to see the precise legal effect you must compare the principal Act before and after the deletion. (See ss.6–7 of the Bill.)

Who is affected

People who are subject to the unlawful consorting provisions: primarily people who have been convicted of offences that place them in the classes targeted by the Act. By adding "child sex offence," the Bill brings people who have committed child sex offences within the scope of consorting restrictions where they were previously excluded or where only indictable offences were captured.

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Source excerpts

Direct links to excerpts of the current source text in Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026.

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Document excerpt 1

Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026

60—1 page i Western Australia Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026 Contents

Short title 2
Commencement 2
Act amended 2
Section 9 amended 2
Section 17 amended 3
Section 18 amended 3
Section 43 amended 3

page 1 Western Australia LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Introduced by Hon. Mr Nick Goiran, MLC) Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026 A Bill for An Act to amend the Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021. The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:

Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026 s. 1 page 2

Short title1 This is the Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful2 Consorting Act 2026.3
Commencement4 This Act comes into operation as follows —5 (a) sections 1 and 2 — on the day on which this Act6 receives the Royal Assent;7 (b) the rest of the Act — on the day after that day.8
Act amended9 This Act amends the Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and10 Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021.11
Section 9 amended12 (1) In section 9(1)(c) delete “indictable offence.” and insert:13 14 indictable offence or child sex offence.15 16 (2) Delete section 9(2) and insert:17 18 (2) The reference in subsection (1) to conduct constituting19 an indictable offence or child sex offence includes20 conduct engaged in outside this State (including21 outside Australia) that, if it occurred in this State,22 would constitute an indictable offence or child sex23 offence.24 25

Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026 s. 5 page 3 5. Section 17 amended1 In section 17(3)(b) delete “indictable offence.” and insert:2 3 indictable offence or child sex offence.4 5 6. Section 18 amended6 Delete section 18(2)(a)(viii).7 7. Section 43 amended8 Delete section 43(2)(a)(viii).9

Source text

Sourced from the Western Australian Legislation website (legislation.wa.gov.au). Not the authorised version.