There is nothing more sacred than the innocence of a child and nothing more important than our duty to protect it.
When a child is harmed, it shatters more than just one life. It ripples through families, through communities, and through our collective sense of safety.
I’ve spoken often about youth crime and the loss of people’s property and peace of mind but when a child’s innocence is stolen, it’s something that can never be repaired, replaced, or returned.
That is why we are taking a strong and decisive stand through the Community Protection and Public Child Sex Offender Register Bill 2025 known as Daniel’s Law.
We all know the name Daniel Morcombe. We know his story. And thanks to the tireless advocacy of his parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, we are taking decisive action to deliver stronger child safety laws.
I believe this is one of the most important bills our LNP government has considered in the past 12 months.
This Bill seeks to establish a publicly accessible register of certain child sex offenders in Queensland.
For more than a decade, the Morcombe family called for action on a public child sex offender register, and while the former government failed to act, our government has made it a priority in our very first year.
I am so proud our government is doing this for the Morcombe family, and other families impacted by these types of horrendous crimes against our children.
This legislation is about transparency, accountability, and above all, protection. It ensures parents and communities have the right to know when those who have committed the most serious crimes against children are living nearby.
Daniel’s Law is about prevention. It is ensuring that Queensland leads the way in putting the safety of our children before the rights of offenders.
The objectives of this Bill are clear:
- To increase transparency for parents, caregivers, and the wider community
- To empower the public with vital information about high-risk offenders, particularly when offenders breach reporting obligations or their whereabouts are unknown
- To ensure our children are protected from sexual offenders who pose a threat to their safety and wellbeing
This Bill represents a promise to every child in Queensland that their safety is our priority and that every possible measure will be taken to protect them.
This bill is just one of the puzzle pieces in the LNP Crisafulli Government’s solution to the crime crisis we inherited from labor.
Since coming to office, we have delivered Queensland’s most comprehensive crime-reduction agenda in decades.
It began with tough new laws under the Adult Crime, Adult Time policy.
The government also made “Jack’s Law” permanent, expanding police wanding powers across public spaces.
A permanent State Flying Squad and expanded POLAIR helicopter fleet now gives police rapid response across the state, backed by new Tasers, body-worn cameras, tyre-deflation devices, and funding to recruit 1,600 new officers.
Alongside stronger enforcement, the government has invested heavily in prevention and rehabilitation.
Programs like Circuit Breaker Sentencing and Staying On Track provide structured rehabilitation for repeat youth offenders, while $50 million has been committed to a SecureCare residential facility for at-risk young people.
Monthly “victims of crime” data is now published to ensure transparency, and a dedicated Ministry for Victim Support has been established to put victims at the centre of the justice system.
This comprehensive approach is already delivering results but we will continue to work on this for as long as it takes.
This bill – Daniel’s Law – is another step in the right direction.
The Bill lays out a three-tier disclosure scheme for public access.
- Tier 1 is for convicted sex offenders who fail to comply with reporting obligations or whose whereabouts are unknown. This person’s name, photo, and year of birth are listed on the public website so the community can remain vigilant.
- Tier 2 is for convicted sex offenders who are considered high risk, these offenders will have their name, photo, year of birth, current location, and offences committed all shared online. Parents in the neighborhood can be aware of the presence of convicted sex offenders and take extra steps to protect their children.
- Tier 3 relates to moderate risk offenders where information published will only be accessible to police, certain government agencies, and organisations working with children. This Includes: name, photo, year of birth, and relevant details needed to manage risk.
Let me be clear. Every convicted child sex offender will be included in this model.
This is about protecting our children and making absolutely certain that no offender is hidden from view or beyond the reach of the law.
In 2023, 58% of recorded sexual assault victims had an age at incident of under 18 years, equating to approximately 20,900 child victims. This is across Australia.
Queensland had the highest percentage of 10-17yr old offenders at 24.8%.
93% of alleged sex offenders were male.
Closer to my region, a 2022 investigation into the alleged grooming and exploitation of young people in Cairns has identified 48 child victims during Operation Uniform Kalahari. I suspect it is much higher.
The trauma that these victims face will live with them forever. This is something we cannot change which breaks my heart.
This new public register is the first of its kind in Queensland.
Under the current law, members of the community have no access to the information stored on the restricted, non-public register.
This means parents, schools, and community members are left completely in the dark about who is living in their neighbourhood, who is working with young people, and whether there are risks they should be aware of.
Under Labor’s watch, Queenslanders have witnessed multiple cases where convicted child sex offenders were released back into the community only to reoffend- an appalling failure of protection.
Not all sex offenders reoffend. But many do. Statistics sit around 10-15% of those convicted of a sexual offence will reoffend.
When this happens, the outrage from Queenslanders is immense, and the anger is always about how the laws aren’t protecting our children but protecting these disgusting creeps.
Names like Adam Crosswell, Christopher Mackie, Andrew Vassel, and Peter Buchanan are tragic reminders of what happens when accountability and transparency fall short.
Daniel’s Law is designed to change that by giving parents and communities access to vital information, increasing public awareness, and placing greater deterrents on offenders.
When offenders know the community is watching, and when families are informed, we create stronger safeguards that help prevent reoffending and protect our most vulnerable.
Under the previous government, we were left in the dark about where these offenders live.
Under the amendments, we are no longer left in the dark.
This bill is another step in the right direction and proof that we are a Government that protects people, not criminals.
These children did not have a choice.
Those who abused them did.
And, sadly, these criminals will do it again, if given the opportunity.
We can’t change what has happened to these victims.
What we can change is the sense of fear and the sense of being left in the dark that our community experience, unaware if someone with a history of sexual offenses could be living next door.
Mister Speaker,I rise today not only as a Member of Parliament but as a mother and as a guardian of the next generation.
I speak on behalf of every parent who deserves the right to know who is engaging with their children.
This Friday is Day for Daniel, a day to honour Daniel’s memory, to stand up for child safety, and to remind every Australian that protecting our children is everyone’s responsibility. This year we will be able to honor Daniel with this law passing through parliament.
Mr Speaker, as a mother, MP, and proud member of my community, I wholeheartedly support this bill.
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