Australia introduces tougher child sex offender laws

Young Australians will be better protected from online child predators under a tough new law announced by the nation's Justice Minister Michael Keenan on Thursday.

Keenan said "Carly's Law" - which is named after a 15-year-old girl who was groomed and murdered by a paedophile posing as a teenager - would allow law enforcement agencies to "take action against predators sooner and with greater consequence."

"An evolved version of Carly's Law will make it a crime for an adult to use a carriage service to commit an act in preparation for, or planning to, cause harm to or engage in or procure sexual activity with a minor," Keenan said in a statement released on Thursday.

"Importantly, this will include those who misrepresent their age.

"It will give police the power to intervene before predators have a chance to act, and will also serve as a strong deterrent, with a tough new sentence of 10 years prison for convicted offenders."

Carly Ryan, for whom the law is named, was murdered ten years ago by a middle-aged online predator posing as an 18-year-old boy, and Keenan said the law changes are an "enduring legacy" to both Carly and her mother, who he said worked tirelessly to help the government toughen laws on child sex offenders.

"This is a testament to Sonya Ryan, who has turned a story about the loss of a life into one that will now save many lives," Keenan said.

"For a decade she has tirelessly worked to achieve an outcome that would better protect young Australians in the online world.

"Today, she has achieved what she set out to do; a law that will protect young Australians and serve as an enduring legacy for Carly." Endit