Hi all — hoping to get some general guidance on this situation from anyone with knowledge of Queensland criminal law or child protection.
A person I know was convicted of child sexual offences involving their biological child. Some members of the community have accessed court documents about the conviction and are now circulating those documents — unredacted — in group chats and social media DMs. The offender’s name is being openly discussed.
The problem is: the offender has only one known child, and their relationship to the child is known in the community (small social circle). So even though the victim isn’t named directly, it’s becoming very obvious who they are.
To complicate it further:
From what I’ve read, Queensland law prohibits publishing material that could identify a child complainant in a sexual offence matter, even if there’s no court suppression order — but I’m unsure how that applies when the info was shared privately (but widely), and by someone close to the case.
Would this kind of conduct potentially be a criminal offence, or does the fact that the document is public change that?
Also, does the guardian disclosing the child’s identity override any protection?
Thanks in advance for any insight. Just looking to understand where the line is, and whether this is something that should be escalated again — with better legal advice.
A person I know was convicted of child sexual offences involving their biological child. Some members of the community have accessed court documents about the conviction and are now circulating those documents — unredacted — in group chats and social media DMs. The offender’s name is being openly discussed.
The problem is: the offender has only one known child, and their relationship to the child is known in the community (small social circle). So even though the victim isn’t named directly, it’s becoming very obvious who they are.
To complicate it further:
- The victim’s guardian (not the offender) has allegedly confirmed the child’s identity to others.
- Details about the offence are being embellished or exaggerated by some people.
- A person closely connected to the offender has lost a job after this info was circulated alongside damaging rumours.
- The child is now likely identifiable among family/school/community.
From what I’ve read, Queensland law prohibits publishing material that could identify a child complainant in a sexual offence matter, even if there’s no court suppression order — but I’m unsure how that applies when the info was shared privately (but widely), and by someone close to the case.
Would this kind of conduct potentially be a criminal offence, or does the fact that the document is public change that?
Also, does the guardian disclosing the child’s identity override any protection?
Thanks in advance for any insight. Just looking to understand where the line is, and whether this is something that should be escalated again — with better legal advice.