Convicted paedophile Milton Orkopoulos has avoided jail for speaking to a child on the phone and setting up an Instagram account.
The former Labor MP visited police three days after he was released on parole in December 2019 to sign a form notifying him of his reporting obligations under the Child Protection Register.
The court heard he was warned police would not be lenient given his history.
"No, no and nor should you, nor should you. I mean I voted for the legislation remember," he replied.
When police went to his home less than a month later to check his devices, they realised he had spoken to a young relative on the phone and not notified them.
"Well I was talking to their mother and she sort of said, 'say hi to (Orkopoulos)'," he told them.
He had also set up an Instagram account and followed soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Asked why he hadn't told them he said he didn't think he'd used it.
He was charged and granted bail on conditions which included not using a phone with internet access.
But the court heard staff at the home where he lived caught him using another resident's smartphone and notified police.
"My sister will be thrilled, that's who I was talking to," he said to officers.
Orkopoulos also complained that organising to make calls was "hard and annoying".
"He put his own needs above the reporting obligations," Magistrate Philip Stewart said.
Magistrate Stewart cited community safety as he told Orkopoulos he wanted to impose a 12-month jail sentence.
But because the DPP decided to leave the case in the local court rather than move it to the District Court, a section of legislation meant he was unable to impose more than a community corrections order.
Orkopoulos was the Aboriginal Affairs Minister when he was arrested in 2006 and was later convicted of 30 offences related to the supply of cannabis and heroin as well as the sexual and indecent assault of three male victims.
He served almost 12 years behind bars before he was released on parole last December.
The court heard Orkopoulos is still facing charges related to allegations he assaulted another four boys in the Newcastle area in the 1990s.
Orkopoulos is currently in custody because his parole was revoked.
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