SA laws to crack down on pedophiles

Laws to thwart the release of a notorious pedophile and other similar sex offenders will significantly boost child protection in South Australia, the state government says.

The new measures were prompted by a Supreme Court decision to allow the release of repeat offender Colin Charles Humphrys who has an extensive record of sex crimes stretching back to the 1980s.

The court found Humphrys should be allowed back into the community despite the Parole Board arguing he remained a serious risk of reoffending.

That prompted an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions amid widespread community concern with both the new Liberal government and the Labor opposition vowing to toughen parole laws.

On Thursday, a government bill that would essentially keep Humphrys behind bars passed both houses of state parliament.

It blocks the release of pedophiles who are unwilling or unable to control their sexual instincts, something acting Attorney-General John Gardner said was critical for them to be allowed into the community.

"There is no justification for allowing individuals who have sexually assaulted children back into the community unless they can demonstrate that they are no longer a threat to children," Mr Gardner said.

"Too many lives have been ruined because these sexual predators have been given the benefit of the doubt by our legal system and re-offended after being released from prison."

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said he had been horrified at the prospect of Humphrys being freed.

"Dangerous pedophiles who are unwilling or unable to control their sexual instincts should not be released into the community," he said.

Humphrys' offending against children included the abduction and abuse of a boy in the early 1990s and the 2003 sexual assault of a boy in a toilet block.