Robyn McSweeney defends comments made in the wake of controversial release of offender known as TJD

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A West Australian Liberal backbencher has stood by her comment in parliament that serial sex offenders should “have their penis removed with a blunt instrument”.



There has been public uproar since a man known only as TJD was freed from prison last week by a supreme court judge under a strict 10-year supervision order.

Commissioner Kevin Sleight’s decision ended an indefinite detention order handed to TJD in 2011 following vicious assaults on more than a dozen women over 23 years and his psychological assessment as a sexual sadist with psychopathic tendencies.

On Friday, Liberal backbencher Robyn McSweeney stood by her comment made in parliament this week that chemical castration did not always work for sex offenders and “people like this should have their penis removed with a blunt instrument”.

“Obviously, I am a legislator and that is not going to happen, but when we see the damage that this man inflicts on women and children, there is no place for people like this to walk amongst us in society,” she told parliament.

“If I get into trouble for saying that, so be it, because I am not the first one to say things like that.”

TJD was arrested on Wednesday - eight days after being released - for allegedly breaching a reporting condition and was bailed before he appears in Perth magistrates court next week.

He is believed to have not brought a diary to a meeting with police.

McSweeny said on Friday she was still “very angry” that TJD was released from prison and expected him to breach parole again.

“I hope that he breaches his bail by cutting off his ankle bracelet and then they can put him back inside (prison),” McSweeney told Fairfax radio. “He doesn’t seem to have any moral conscience.”

Attorney-general Michael Mischin has ordered a review of WA’s Dangerous Sexual Offenders Act in light of TJD’s release.

High-profile lawyers Tom Percy and Linda Black backed Sleight, saying he was an experienced judge who was not lenient.