The former police officer does not think the measure will deter paedophiles, but perhaps more satisfactorily deal with them.

Dubbo-based Mr Grant headed to Sydney yesterday where this week the NSW Parliament is likely to rubber-stamp the formation of a joint select committee to investigate sentences handed down to sex offenders and look at alternative sentencing options.

Announced by Premier Barry O’Farrell on Sunday, the proposed committee will also establish if current sentences are in line with community expectations.

“Confidence in the justice system is undermined when sentences for child sex offenders appear out of step with community expectations,” the Premier said.

“The community rightly expects child sex offenders to receive harsh punishments for their heinous crimes.”

Subject to parliamentary approval, the committee will comprise seven members representing the NSW government, state opposition and independent members of the parliament.

It will be chaired by Mr Grant, who gave evidence to the special commission of inquiry into sexual abuse by priests in the Hunter Valley and lobbied for the royal commission into institutional child sexual abuse.

As a police officer, Mr Grant investigated and charged paedophiles, including priest Vincent Ryan in 1995. 

Ryan served almost 15 years in jail for crimes against 31 victims.

Minimum mandatory sentencing and anti-androgenic medication are among the alternative sentencing options that the committee will consider.

“Over the years I have interviewed thousands of people and never have I been convinced they’ve ever committed crime knowing or giving any consideration to what the punishment was,” Mr Grant said.

“But when it comes to the consequence of crime, I think there is significant merit for debate on minimum mandatory sentencing.

“It’s about people being held accountable for what they’ve done.” 

Mr Grant noted the government was responding to growing concern in the community about the adequacy and consistency of sentences for child sex offences.

“In my career (as a police officer) I’ve seen massive variance in sentencing,” he said.

The 17-year jail sentence for Vincent Ryan was a “record” of the time, Mr Grant said.

“But I had other cases involving manifestly inadequate sentences, for example a grandfather who sexually assaulted 14 of his grandchildren and got four years,” the MP said.

Mr Grant said he needed to hear and learn more about anti-androgenic medication before determining a view on it.

The timeframe and detail of the committee’s work is not yet fully determined, but Mr O’Farrell has signalled that it will “seek submissions from the public and expert bodies”.

Mr Grant wants the final recommendations of the committee to “satisfy the community, but be realistic and sustainable as well”.