Queensland has made history with the passing of Daniel’s Law, delivering the state’s first ever public child sex offender register.
The landmark reform gives parents the power to know if convicted predators live nearby, helping protect children across the state.
Premier David Crisafulli has described it as “a monumental day for Queensland families,” saying the new law “arms parents with the information they need and makes Queensland safer.”
“This is a monumental day, not just for the Morcombe’s who have shown amazing strength in their advocacy for these laws for over a decade, but for every family in Queensland,” the Premier said.
“Families previously had no idea if convicted predators were living on their street or even next door, but this tool will help prevent monsters from hiding in plain sight.
“While no system will ever be perfect, these new laws will help parents protect our children, who can’t protect themselves.
“We are putting the rights of victims ahead of the rights of offenders, and while we are seeing crime down and victim numbers down, there is much more to be done to make Queensland safer.”
The register, set to officially launch by year’s end, will also include strict penalties for anyone who misuses the information.
The law is named in honour of Daniel Morcombe, the Sunshine Coast schoolboy whose abduction and murder in 2003 shocked the nation.
For more than two decades, parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe championed reforms to protect children, leading to this week’s historic outcome.
“It has been more than 20 years since Daniel was taken from us, and every single day since, we’ve fought to make sure no other family goes through what we did,” the Morcombes said.
“Daniel’s Law is about protecting kids, empowering parents, and shining a light on those who lurk in the dark.
“We’re incredibly proud to see Daniel’s legacy is so powerful and will keep Queensland children safe for generations to come.”
