Sex Offenders Register Tasmania

What you need to know right now

Tasmania's sex offenders register is called the Community Protection Offender Register, and it is run by the Commissioner of Tasmania Police under the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 (Tas). It is NOT a public register - ordinary members of the public cannot search it, and only people authorised by the Commissioner may access it (sections 43 and 44). If a court convicts you of a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 reportable offence, it must usually make you a 'reportable offender', which means reporting your personal details to police, in person, once a year and whenever they change, plus before you travel. Reporting periods are 8 years for a single Class 1 offence, 15 years for a single Class 2 or Class 3 offence (or multiple Class 1 offences), and life for multiple serious offences. Failing to report, or giving false details, is a separate crime. If any of this affects you, call 1800 951 176 for free information now.

The law in Tasmania

Tasmania's scheme is set out in the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 (Tas). The register itself is called the Community Protection Offender Register, and the Commissioner of Police must establish and maintain it under section 43. Crucially, it is a police database, not a public 'name and shame' list. Section 44 says the register may only be accessed by people the Commissioner authorises, and offenders' personal information may only be disclosed in tightly limited circumstances. So unlike some overseas schemes, members of the public in Tasmania cannot look you up.

You become a 'reportable offender' mainly by being sentenced for a 'reportable offence'. Reportable offences are grouped into Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 categories, listed in the schedules to the Act - broadly the most serious sexual offences (including child sexual offences) are Class 1 and Class 2, with a further band of offences in Class 3. When a court sentences an adult for one of these offences, it must make an offender reporting order placing them on the register unless it is satisfied the person poses no risk to the sexual safety of the community (sections 6 and 7). For other, non-listed offences a court can still make a discretionary order if it considers the person a risk.

Reporting obligations begin quickly. Under section 16 you generally have to make your first report, in person at a police station, within 7 days of the order being made or of being released from custody (and within a short window of arriving in Tasmania if you are a corresponding offender from another state). Section 17 sets out the long list of 'personal details' you must give - your names and any aliases, date of birth, every address where you generally reside, employment, the make and registration of vehicles you use, tattoos and distinguishing marks, internet and email identifiers, telephone numbers, details of any contact with children, and travel and passport information.

After the initial report you must report again every year under section 18, during the calendar month in which you first reported (or as otherwise directed by the Registrar), and you must report any change to your details - such as a new address, new job, a new car or a new phone - usually within 7 days. Section 19 deals with travel: if you intend to leave Tasmania you must report the planned travel in advance (generally at least 7 days before, or within 24 hours where it is unavoidable at short notice), give your destinations and dates, and produce your passport.

The length of time you remain on the register is fixed by section 24. For a single Class 1 offence the reporting period is up to 8 years; for a single Class 2 or Class 3 offence, or for multiple Class 1 offences, it is up to 15 years; and for multiple Class 2 or Class 3 offences (or a mix that crosses the threshold) the period is for the remainder of your life. Section 25 provides reduced maximum periods for offenders who were children when they offended - up to 4 years instead of 8, and up to 7 years 6 months instead of 15. These periods run while you are at liberty in the community; time in custody does not count down the clock.

The Tasmanian scheme also forms part of the national framework. Reportable offenders' details are recorded on the Australian National Child Offender Register (ANCOR), the system used by police across Australia and managed nationally, so that an offender cannot evade monitoring simply by moving interstate. Tasmania Police have publicly consulted on a Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill that would, among other things, expand disclosure to child-protection and monitoring agencies and create limited parent inquiry rights - so the law in this area is under active review.

Tasmania's sex offenders register at a glance

Governing law: Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 (Tas)
Register name: Community Protection Offender Register, run by the Commissioner of Tasmania Police (s 43)
Public? No - access is restricted to people authorised by the Commissioner (s 44); it is not searchable by the public
Who goes on it: people sentenced for Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 reportable offences (ss 6-7), plus discretionary cases
First report: in person, generally within 7 days (s 16)
Ongoing: report personal details once a year, report changes within 7 days, and report travel out of Tasmania in advance (ss 18-19)
Reporting periods: up to 8 years (single Class 1), up to 15 years (single Class 2/3 or multiple Class 1), or life for multiple serious offences (s 24)
Young offenders: reduced maximums of 4 years or 7 years 6 months (s 25)
National link: details also held on the Australian National Child Offender Register (ANCOR)

Charged with a sexual offence in Tasmania? Registration is not automatic - but it is close

Many people do not realise that being placed on the register is a real consequence of the sentence itself, not a separate police decision. For a Class 1, 2 or 3 offence a Tasmanian court must make an offender reporting order unless it is positively satisfied you pose no risk - so the burden effectively sits with you to persuade the court otherwise. That argument has to be made at sentencing, by your lawyer, with evidence; it is very hard to undo afterwards. The reporting period attached to your offence (8 years, 15 years or life) can shape your life for far longer than any sentence. If you are facing charges, the time to get advice is before you are sentenced, not after. Call 1800 951 176 for free information about your situation.

What this means in practice

What being a reportable offender actually means day to day in Tasmania:

8-year reporting period

The maximum reporting period for a single Class 1 reportable offence under section 24. You report your personal details every year and whenever they change for that whole period while you are in the community.

15-year reporting period

Applies to a single Class 2 or Class 3 offence, or multiple Class 1 offences (s 24). Time spent in custody does not count toward the 15 years - the clock effectively pauses while you are inside.

Lifetime reporting

Multiple Class 2 or Class 3 offences (or a qualifying mix) attract reporting for the remainder of your life under section 24 - the most serious outcome on the Tasmanian register.

Reduced periods for children

Where the offending happened while you were under 18, section 25 caps the period at 4 years (instead of 8) or 7 years 6 months (instead of 15).

Failure to report

Not reporting, or not reporting on time, is a separate offence under section 33 carrying up to 100 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment, or both.

False or misleading details

Giving police false or misleading information is an offence under section 34, punishable by up to 100 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment, or both.

What to do now — step by step

1

Do not guess. Write down exactly what you have been charged with or convicted of, and any reporting order paperwork or police directions you have received - the offence class drives everything that follows.

2

Diarise your reporting dates immediately. Note the calendar month you must report each year and put a reminder in place for any change of address, employment, vehicle, phone or planned travel so a deadline never slips.

3

Never give police details you are unsure about. If you do not know an answer, say so rather than guessing - knowingly giving false or misleading information is a separate offence under section 34.

4

Get free information about your specific position. Call our hotline on 1800 951 176 - it is a free, confidential, 24/7 AI legal-information service that can explain how the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act applies to you.

5

If you are facing charges or already on the register and need real legal advice, use the hotline to book a vetted Tasmanian criminal lawyer who can act before sentencing or help with compliance. Call 1800 951 176.

Mistakes to avoid

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Assuming the register is public. It is not - in Tasmania only people authorised by the Commissioner can access it (s 44). Believing neighbours can already see your details leads some people to wrongly think reporting does not matter.

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Forgetting the annual report or a change of details. The obligation is ongoing for the whole period - a new address, job, car, phone number or email must be reported (usually within 7 days), and missing the yearly report is a crime under section 33, even if the lapse was an oversight.

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Travelling interstate or overseas without reporting first. Section 19 requires advance notice of travel out of Tasmania and production of your passport; turning up at the airport without having reported can be charged as non-compliance.

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Trying to argue against registration after sentencing. The court decides at sentencing whether you pose no risk (ss 6-7). Once the order is made it is very difficult to overturn - the argument must be prepared and run before you are sentenced.

Free & low-cost help in Tasmania

If you cannot afford a private lawyer, or you just want a starting point, these Tasmanian and national services may be able to help. They are independent of Legal Hotline and we do not earn anything from listing them.

Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania

Free legal information and a duty lawyer service for criminal matters in the Magistrates Court; may grant aid for serious charges. Statewide phone line 1300 366 611.

Hobart Community Legal Service

Free, confidential legal help for people in southern Tasmania, including some criminal-law matters and referrals.

Tasmania Police - Community Protection / Offender Reporting

Official information on the Community Protection Offender Register and the reporting scheme, and where reporting is carried out.

Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 (Tas)

The full text of the governing legislation, including the reporting periods (s 24) and offences (ss 33-34).

Frequently asked questions — Community Protection Offender Register in Tasmania

Is the sex offenders register public in Tasmania?

No. Tasmania's Community Protection Offender Register is a police-held database, not a public list. Section 44 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 restricts access to people authorised by the Commissioner of Police, and offenders' personal information may only be disclosed in limited, authorised circumstances. The public cannot search it. For free information about what is and is not disclosed, call 1800 951 176.

What law sets up the register in Tasmania?

The Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005 (Tas). It creates the Community Protection Offender Register, defines who must report, lists Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 reportable offences in its schedules, and sets the reporting periods and penalties. It is administered by Tasmania Police, and offenders' details also feed into the national ANCOR system.

How long do you stay on the register in Tasmania?

Section 24 sets the reporting period by offence. A single Class 1 offence carries up to 8 years; a single Class 2 or Class 3 offence, or multiple Class 1 offences, carries up to 15 years; and multiple Class 2 or Class 3 offences carry reporting for the remainder of your life. Reduced maximums of 4 years or 7 years 6 months apply where the offending occurred while you were under 18 (s 25). Time in custody does not count toward the period.

What do I actually have to report to police?

Section 17 lists your reportable personal details - names and aliases, date of birth, every address where you generally reside, employment, vehicles you use, tattoos and distinguishing marks, phone numbers, internet and email identifiers, passport and travel details, and any contact you have with children. You give these in person at your first report and confirm or update them each year and whenever they change.

How often do I have to report?

After your initial report (generally within 7 days of the order or release, under section 16), you must report again every year under section 18 during the calendar month you first reported, or as the Registrar directs. On top of that, you must report any change to your details - usually within 7 days - and report travel out of Tasmania in advance under section 19.

What happens if I forget to report or report late?

Failing to comply with your reporting obligations is a separate criminal offence under section 33, punishable by a fine of up to 100 penalty units or up to 2 years imprisonment, or both. There can be defences - for example a reasonable excuse - but you should get advice quickly rather than assume it will be overlooked. Call 1800 951 176 for free information.

What if I gave police the wrong information by mistake?

Knowingly giving false or misleading information is an offence under section 34, carrying up to 100 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment, or both. An honest mistake is different from knowingly misleading police, but the safest course is to correct the record as soon as you realise and to never guess at an answer. A lawyer can help you fix it - the hotline can connect you on 1800 951 176.

Can I get taken off the register early in Tasmania?

Tasmania's reporting periods are fixed by the offence class under section 24 and there is no simple 'application to come off' once the period is set - which is exactly why the registration question must be fought at sentencing, where the court decides under sections 6 and 7 whether you pose no risk. If you are facing sentencing, get advice before that hearing. For free information call 1800 951 176.

Do I have to report before I travel interstate or overseas?

Yes. Under section 19 you must report intended travel out of Tasmania in advance - generally at least 7 days before leaving, or within 24 hours where short-notice travel is unavoidable - give your destinations and dates, and produce your passport. You also have to report your return and produce your passport again. Travelling without reporting can be charged as non-compliance.

Is registration automatic if I am convicted of a sexual offence?

Close to it. For a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 reportable offence the court must make an offender reporting order unless it is satisfied you pose no risk to the sexual safety of the community (ss 6-7). For other offences a court may make a discretionary order. Because the order usually follows conviction, the time to argue against it is at sentencing. Call 1800 951 176 for free information about your charges.

Sources & further reading

Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Laws change — confirm current details with the linked official sources or call 1800 951 176.

Speak to a Tasmanian criminal lawyer before it is too late

Registration is decided at sentencing, and once a reporting order is made it is very hard to undo. A Tasmanian criminal lawyer can argue at the sentencing hearing that you pose no risk under sections 6 and 7, help you understand exactly what your reporting period and obligations are, and defend you if you are charged with failing to comply. Our hotline can connect you with a vetted local criminal lawyer who knows the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act and the Tasmanian courts. Call 1800 951 176 to get started - we will explain your options first, for free.

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The Sex Offenders Register in Tasmania