When asked why a convicted child sex offender needed to work in an area swarming with children, Harvey pointed out there were “over 60,000 sex offenders in Queensland, they walk around the shops and everywhere else”.
This isn’t the first time Harvey has been caught near kids after his working with children permit was suspended.
In 2016, he was spotted operating a ride at a school when he was running a jumping castle business.
Parent Jen Fleming was one of many locals who were shocked to learn that Harvey was again working at the child-friendly cafe just outside Brisbane.
“It’s pretty terrifying to know this could be allowed to happen,” she said.
“I think a lot of parents would have a problem with it, and as a local parent, I am really concerned that this has been allowed to happen.”
The City Chicks petting zoo advertises itself as a “kids play space”.Credit: A Current Affair
Lawyer Andrew Carpenter said he was “disgusted” that a registered sex offender could work at a business promoted as a petting zoo.
“Parents shouldn’t have to play detective to simply take their child to pat a goat,” he said, adding that if current legislation allows Harvey to work there, it needs to be changed.
“This isn’t a grey area, it’s a flashing stop sign. Offenders will try to find loopholes to gain access to children, and these loopholes need to be closed immediately.”
Harvey told A Current Affair there was more to his criminal convictions, and he always maintained his innocence.
City Chicks owner Ingrid Dimock was in a relationship with Steven Harvey for almost two years.Credit: A Current Affair
“I’m not a sick individual, you are making stuff up,” he said. “You don’t know all of my history of everything that happened.”
Harvey also claimed the destination considered by many locals to be a petting zoo was in fact a farm.
“The amount of mental gymnastics he is showing to justify being around children shows that he is still a danger to vulnerable people,” Carpenter said.
Despite claiming he only works in the kitchen now, Harvey was recorded speaking to a mother and her child inside the patting area this week.
Late on Thursday, a spokesperson for Queensland Police said it had “received additional information involving a man at Samford”.
“As this information is under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the spokesperson said.
The City Chicks owner was in a relationship with Harvey for almost two years and told A Current Affair by text message that he’d been cleared to return.
“After carefully reviewing the situation with authorities, he is contributing legally in a strictly operational role behind the scenes, with no contact with children,” Dimock said.
This was a far cry from her position when his criminal history was first exposed in November, telling Nine News she didn’t want people “driving past yelling out foul words”, adding that she was “the victim here”.
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