Opposition Leader visits Palmwoods to back child safety reforms

The federal Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley, joined local MP Andrew Wallace and the founders of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, in Palmwoods last week to announce the Coalition’s renewed push for tougher penalties for child sexual abuse material offences.

Speaking at Daniel House, Ms Ley praised the Morcombes for turning tragedy into a powerful national movement to protect children.

“You don’t want it to be about that dark day,” she said. “You want it to be about a bright future for children who are at risk. The work that you and Denise have led over so many years is extraordinary – it’s best practice, it’s education, and it’s partnerships that help us get ahead of the criminals who want to commit these heinous crimes.”

The visit followed a failed attempt in Parliament last week to introduce a private member’s bill for mandatory minimum sentences – five years for a first offence and six years for repeat offenders – for anyone producing, transmitting or possessing child abuse material.

Mr Wallace said online child exploitation reports had surged by 41 per cent in the past year, calling the situation “absolutely unacceptable”.

“Every single day, 226 reports are coming in – that’s 4,000 instances during an 18-day delay in passing the bill,” he said.

Ms Ley urged the government to work with the opposition to make the reforms bipartisan. “We cannot accept that our children are becoming less safe,” she said.

“Mandatory minimum sentences are part of the response all levels of government must be prepared to lift.”

• For more information about the Daniel Morcombe Foundation visit www.danielmorcombe.com.au.

From left Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, Bruce Morcombe and Andrew Wallace.