Uproar over child-abuse fears at resorts

CANBERRA - The safety of children at holiday resort kids' clubs and childcare centres has provoked an outcry in Australia.

The row erupted after it emerged that Foreign Minister Alexander Downer refused to warn parents about sexual predators at two Bali resorts despite serious assaults on two young children.

One of them, a 3-year-old girl, contracted gonorrhoea, and the Sheraton Overseas Management Corporation reportedly agreed to a A$60,000 ($64,429) out-of-court settlement after her parents went to the Victorian Supreme Court.

The hotel denied the allegations and did not admit responsibility.

The other child, a 5-year-old boy, was allegedly orally raped by a carer at a resort childcare centre.

Both incidents were referred to Justice Minister Chris Ellison, who told Mr Downer and asked that the Foreign Affairs Department's Indonesian travel advisories include a warning of possible sexual predation at the two resorts.

Mr Downer replied that it was not possible to compile a global list of childcare centres that did not comply with Australian standards.

He said general warnings were given in travel advisories, and specific advice on childcare services overseas had been included in a consular travel booklet published in 2004.

Yesterday, Mr Downer said there was insufficient evidence to justify a specific warning against the resorts and described as outrageous suggestions that the Government had not taken the allegations seriously.

Last night, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it would check if officials had received any information.

Travel companies in New Zealand said they worked closely with the ministry and relied on its advisories.

House of Travel managing director Chris Paulsen said that "if an incident like this was to occur we would obviously take appropriate action" such as not sending customers to the hotel involved and advising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade immediately.

Mr Downer said officials were working with Child Wise to improve screening and recruitment procedures for staff at childcare centres in 35 Asian tourist destinations, including Bali, in a bid to clamp down on predatory paedophiles.

The Australian newspaper said the girl's parents alleged their daughter was sexually assaulted at the five-star Sheraton Nusa Dua resort during a family holiday in January 2001.

The other assault allegedly took place at another resort in 2003.