SERIOUS sex offenders ordered to reside in a facility because they are deemed an unacceptable risk to the community can access phone and internet services via a loophole, news.com.au can reveal.
Corella Place — also known as "the Village of the Damned" — is home to some of Victoria's most dangerous convicted sex offenders who have been placed on orders to live in the supervised quarters under the state's Serious Sex Offenders Monitoring Act. It's where they're sent once they are released from prison.
While residents are not permitted to use the internet or mobile phones at Corella Place some of them do have unsupervised access to the services offsite.
A Corrections Victoria spokesperson said Corella Place residents were allowed to leave the facility accompanied by staff, subject to court orders and strict conditions. But a loophole means that even residents on the strictest orders can go unmonitored during offsite medical visits, business meetings and other appointments where privacy is cited as a requirement.
"Corella Place is a supervised residential facility, not a prison, and provides protection for the Victorian public as well as providing residents with appropriate access to rehabilitation programs and services," a Corrections Victoria spokesperson told news.com.au.
"Some orders might say the individual can't go within 100m of a school or can't go near a specific person or can't go to parks.
"They have someone to monitor them at all times but not in places like doctors' rooms or office meetings because of privacy reasons — the authority accompanying them would stay in the waiting room."
The Australian Medical Association last week revealed that female doctors in suburban Melbourne were at risk of "dangerous and unacceptable situations" involving a convicted sex predator who reportedly slipped away from supervision for a string of GP visits.
The 40-year-old — who has a history of raping, stalking and assaulting women — was ordered to live under supervision at the sex offender facility yet repeatedly travelled to Melbourne and called clinics requesting female-only doctors between August and December.
AMA Victoria warned members about the man requesting to see only female GPs.
"The male usually rings and says: 'Dr X has seen me in the past and can I make another appointment to see her'," the warning read.
Although orders required the rapist to be accompanied by a supervisor when seeing female doctors, he was alleged to have shown up unaccompanied for at least one consultation.
On other occasions, the man allegedly lied about being a regular patient of specific female doctors to avoid being booked to see their male colleagues.
Police and the AMA Victoria again issued warnings for the convicted criminal in early in December after "several" GPs had appointments with the man.
"AMA Victoria has been contacted by some of our GP members who work in Melbourne's northern suburbs. We understand that several female GPs have been exposed to unacceptable behaviours by a particular male patient," president Lorraine Baker said in a statement.
"This person specifically requests to see female GPs. It is alleged that this person has a sexual offence record. The police have been informed, but appear limited in their powers to assist." Dr Baker said GP clinics were usually be considered "very safe places" to work but that there was a danger in one-on-one appointments.
"Corella Place is for serious sex offenders who have completed their jail sentences, but are subject to court ordered treatment and supervision," the Corrections Victoria spokesperson said.
"These are people who would otherwise be living in the community with no supervision at all.
"Corella Place provides protection for the Victorian public as well as providing residents with appropriate access to rehabilitation programs and services."
The spokesperson said several measures including electronic monitoring of residents were in place to protect the community.
"Residents of the facility are members of the community subject to onerous conditions set by the court under the post-sentence scheme," the spokesperson said.
"Electronic monitoring includes alerts that are generated if the devices are tampered with in any way, which authorities respond to immediately," the Corrections Victoria spokesperson said.
"Tampering or removal of a device constitutes a breach of court orders.
"Victoria uses the best technology available, which is also used in other Australian jurisdictions and internationally."
Corrections Victoria staff have legal authority to search Corella Place residents and the facility for contraband items.
"If any items are found that breach court orders, residents can be returned to court and can go back to prison," the spokesperson said.
"Further restrictions, including drug and alcohol testing, may apply depending on individual court orders."
The maximum penalty for breaching a supervision order under the Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Act 2009 is up to five years imprisonment.
A Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said the department closely managed offenders on post-sentence supervision orders, whose conditions are set by the courts.
"This is a civil scheme for individuals who have completed their time in jail and would otherwise be in the community with no supervision at all," she said in a statement.
"The management of serious sex offenders has been strengthened in recent years, with police and Corrections Victoria given stronger powers to manage offenders in the community.
"Work is currently underway to implement reforms to the post-sentence regimen which will provide even greater protection for the community from our most serious offenders."
megan.palin@news.com.au | @Megan_Palin
Source: Corella Place: Serious sex offenders have access to phones and internet on day release
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