CONVICTED pedophile Dennis Ferguson will be moved from a property outside Carbrook, southeast of Brisbane, once court proceedings are finalised, Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence said.
Ferguson, 60, is being cared for by a church group at the Carbrook property at a cost to taxpayers of $1000 a day.
Angry locals who want Ferguson removed, renewed their protest outside the property today, burning an effigy, sounding horns and sirens, and using a megaphone to voice their anger.
Ms Spence last night met with federal, state and local government representatives over the situation. She said Ferguson's stay in Carbrook was not a long term option.
"They will house him till the court proceedings are finished. So that's up to the courts to determine how long that takes," Ms Spence told Fairfax Radio in Brisbane.
Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday that police surveillance would continue at Ferguson's property "24 hours a day, seven days a week".
"The police presence at the moment is as much to ensure there is no threat to public safety as it is to monitor Mr Ferguson and frankly that's just something we have to keep monitoring," Ms Bligh said.
Child protection campaigner Hetty Johnston said yesterday the angry response to Ferguson's presence had probably ended any chance of Queensland adopting a public register of serious sexual offenders, similar to the United States' Megan's Law.
Ms Johnston said that after alleged sightings of Ferguson in public she was fearful people who vaguely resembled Ferguson could be "beaten up".
Ferguson, 60, is being cared for by a church group at the Carbrook property at a cost to taxpayers of $1000 a day.
Angry locals who want Ferguson removed, renewed their protest outside the property today, burning an effigy, sounding horns and sirens, and using a megaphone to voice their anger.
Ms Spence last night met with federal, state and local government representatives over the situation. She said Ferguson's stay in Carbrook was not a long term option.
"They will house him till the court proceedings are finished. So that's up to the courts to determine how long that takes," Ms Spence told Fairfax Radio in Brisbane.
Ferguson, who was freed on new child sex charges last week by a judge who said he would not get a fair trial because of publicity over his case, has already been run out of a community at Miles, in the state's south.The Queensland Government has lodged an appeal against District Court Judge Hugh Botting's decision. It is listed for hearing on July 22.
Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday that police surveillance would continue at Ferguson's property "24 hours a day, seven days a week".
"The police presence at the moment is as much to ensure there is no threat to public safety as it is to monitor Mr Ferguson and frankly that's just something we have to keep monitoring," Ms Bligh said.
Recently retired Queensland Family Court judge and child protection advocate Tim Carmody called for convicted pedophiles moved into communities to be publicly identified."I think there's a compelling argument for it in 2008, in the case of some offenders," he said.
Mr Carmody, SC, told the Courier Mail that states and territories needed to agree to a uniform version of the US-styled Megan's Law.
Child protection campaigner Hetty Johnston said yesterday the angry response to Ferguson's presence had probably ended any chance of Queensland adopting a public register of serious sexual offenders, similar to the United States' Megan's Law.
Ms Johnston said that after alleged sightings of Ferguson in public she was fearful people who vaguely resembled Ferguson could be "beaten up".
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