MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian law barring registered child sex offenders from international travel had an immediate impact when it took effect on Wednesday, stopping a convicted pedophile and turning him away from Sydney Airport.



The law — which government officials have called a “world first” — prevents convicted pedophiles from leaving Australia without permission from law enforcement agencies. The law is meant to keep Australian pedophiles out of Southeast Asian sex tourism markets.

“Australia has up to 20,000 registered child sex offenders who have served their sentences, but are subject to reporting obligations that help protect the community,” Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told reporters Wednesday.