Ferguson temporarily moved from Ryde

Convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson has temporarily left his Sydney unit amid an
outcry from neighbours, but his advocate says he'll return.
Following discussions between Mr Ferguson, Housing NSW officials and a family
protection group on Thursday, the state government announced the 61-year-old had
shifted from his public housing unit while they continued negotiations over a
long-term arrangement.
An hour earlier, Mr Ferguson's supporter Brett Collins, of Justice Action, said the
government had acknowledged his right to remain at the Ryde unit.
"The government has acknowledged that he is entitled to his home in Ryde and that
will be where he is living," Mr Collins later reiterated.
"Last night, he moved to a friend's house to relieve the tension and the housing
commission has given him a second property ... (and) he will be moving between
there, Ryde and his friend's house."
Housing Minister David Borger said Mr Ferguson remained the lease-holder of the Ryde
unit and was free to return there at any time.
The minister said Mr Ferguson was moved in the best interests of the local
community, with some neighbours calling for his removal.
Ryde residents will hold a public meeting in the neighbourhood on Thursday night,
despite Mr Ferguson's absence.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd echoed senior NSW police in warning people to remain calm
and not take the law into their own hands.
"I'm more concerned about ensuring we don't have a breach of the peace and if that
means I have to put police out there in that vicinity, I will do it, because I am
not going to have a breach of the peace," Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told
reporters.
Mr Borger would not disclose Mr Ferguson's temporary address, but said it was a
"more appropriate location" and that he had not been compensated for the move.
Mr Ferguson was jailed for 14 years in 1988 for kidnapping three children and
sexually molesting them in a Brisbane motel.
He completed a 14-year-jail term for the offence and has since been chased out of
several Queensland communities before relocating to NSW.
On Wednesday night a man was stabbed in the stomach outside the block of Ryde units
where Mr Ferguson was living.
The 28-year-old victim was taken to hospital while a 39-year-old man was later
charged with assault after handing himself in to police.
Mr Scipione said the incident did not involve Mr Ferguson.