Daniel’s Law shows early results in push to protect children

Marty Hunt second from left with from left Bruce and Denise Morcombe, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie.

A landmark child protection reform inspired by the disappearance of Palmwoods schoolboy Daniel Morcombe is already generating strong community use, with more than 205,000 visits to the new Daniel’s Law website in its first 10 weeks.

The Community Protection and Child Sex Offender Public Register — known as Daniel’s Law — launched on December 31, giving Queensland parents and carers access to information about convicted child sex offenders to help keep children safe.

The reform carries particular significance for Sunshine Coast communities, where Daniel Morcombe was abducted in 2003 while waiting for a bus. His disappearance and murder shocked the region and led to decades of advocacy by his family for stronger child protection laws.

Early figures show the public register is already being actively used.

Since its launch, 36,889 Tier 2 applications have been submitted by residents seeking to view photographs of reportable offenders living in their local area.

Nine reportable offenders have also been identified through Tier 3 searches, with two now facing charges for allegedly breaching reporting obligations.

Queensland Police have also identified seven additional suspects through the system who were not previously on the register, prompting further investigations.

Under Daniel’s Law, the public can access information through three levels of search.

Tier 1 allows the public to view details of reportable offenders who have failed to comply with reporting obligations and whose whereabouts are unknown. Tier 2 allows residents to apply to view photographs of offenders living in their local area. Tier 3 allows parents or guardians to check whether a specific person who has unsupervised contact with their child is a reportable offender.

Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said the reforms were designed to give families practical tools to protect children.

“This is about protecting our children, strengthening our communities, and doing what’s right,” Mr Hunt said.

Premier David Crisafulli said the early figures showed Queenslanders were already using the register to access information that could help keep children safe.

“We promised reforms to make our community safer and that is exactly what Daniel’s Law is delivering,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Daniel’s father, Bruce Morcombe, said the law represented an important step forward in protecting Queensland children.

“A law is a law, but a law that makes a difference is truly something that we value,” Mr Morcombe said.

“To have it named in honour of our son is truly something special because it is making a difference, it’s protecting Queensland’s kids.”

• For more information, visit DanielsLaw.qld.gov.au.