MEDIA RELEASE 13 March 2026
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace MP has demanded urgent answers from the Albanese Government and the Minister for Home Affairs after revelations that authorities were warned as early as 2024 that accused New Zealand sex offender Ronald Thompson had travelled to Australia.
Mr Wallace said the reporting raises serious questions about why no action appears to have been taken until the issue was exposed publicly through a national investigation on A Current Affair earlier this week.
The investigation revealed Thompson, who had been charged in New Zealand with multiple serious sexual offences involving several alleged child victims, was living on the Sunshine Coast after avoiding trial overseas on medical grounds.
Mr Wallace raised the issue in the House of Representatives this week, calling on the Minister for Home Affairs to use existing powers under Section 501 of the Migration Act to remove Thompson from Australia.
However, new reporting from New Zealand media suggests Australian authorities were aware Thompson had travelled to Australia as early as 2024, after media inquiries and information from New Zealand Police alerted officials to his presence.
Mr Wallace said the timeline raises deeply concerning questions.
“If authorities were warned about this individual nearly two years ago, Australians deserve to know why no action appears to have been taken until this issue was exposed publicly on the national stage,” Mr Wallace said.
“Families on the Sunshine Coast and across Australia are rightly asking why it takes a television investigation and parliamentary pressure before the Government moves to protect the community.”
Mr Wallace said the Government already has clear legal powers available.
“The Minister for Home Affairs has the authority under the Migration Act to deport a non-citizen on character grounds where they pose a risk to the Australian community irrespective of whether an individual has been convicted or not,” he said.
“These powers exist for precisely this type of situation.”
Mr Wallace said the key question now is whether action is finally being taken and why it appears to have taken so long.
“If action is now underway, the Government must explain why it took the pressure from Parliament and media before anything happened.”
“Australians deserve confidence that our immigration system is working and that communities like the Sunshine Coast are being protected.”
“No community in Australia should ever become a refuge for individuals seeking to avoid facing extremely serious criminal allegations overseas.”
Mr Wallace said he will continue pressing the Government until clear answers are provided.
“Community safety must always come first.”
[ENDS]
Please find Mr Wallace’s address to Parliament here: https://andrewwallacemp.com.au/speeches/community-safety-first-protecting-sunshine-coast-families-statements-by-members/
Please find the original ACA report here: https://youtu.be/HsmJMHkw520
Media Contact: Brendan West -0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
