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Rees had his chance to beat up on paedophiles while he was working for Orkopoulos

21 September 2009 | Joe Stella

Read more background from ABC News.

Housing NSW apparently misjudged the potential for community outrage at the government providing free accommodation to a paedophile—particularly accommodation that’s really difficult to get someone out of.

Following his release from prison in 2005, Mr Ferguson was run out of several towns in the Sunshine State and moved to Sydney, answering the age-old question, “Where else but Queensland?”

It’s not yet clear what is motivating Premier Nathan Rees to go so tough on this one paedophile. It may have something to do with his old boss, child sex offender Milton Orkopoulos, and the trouble Mr Rees has had getting a reference from him.

The Premier’s review will see all state departments evaluate their procedures for dealing with sex offenders. Among the proposed changes:

• State Transit - Ferguson no longer entitled to Family Funday Sunday ticket; $2.50 for unlimited travel on all buses, trains and ferries if accompanied by a child
• Historic Houses Trust - Museum of Sydney to remove sex offenders from list of convicts on the First Fleet
• Education and Training - Ferguson to receive lifetime ban from participation in Schools Spectacular
• Corrective Services - New procedure to check if any incoming inmates are paedophiles, and if so, refuse them entry
• Roads and Traffic Authority - Ferguson’s car to be fitted with a special tracking device that beeps whenever he goes over the Harbour Bridge.