The parents of abducted teenager Daniel Morcombe hope state legislation has a “domino effect” and ushers in a national public sex offender register.
Thirteen-year-old Daniel was murdered after being abducted while waiting for a bus on the Sunshine Coast in late 2003.
More than 20 years later, his legacy lives on with the Queensland government in 2025 set to introduce Daniel’s Law – creating a publicly accessible sex offender register.
It would allow parents to search the photos and names of convicted child sex offenders.
Similar schemes have been adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.
But Daniel’s father, Bruce Morcombe, hopes it will soon become national, saying Queensland might yet prove the catalyst.
“It (a public sex offender register) is not a silver bullet because if you haven’t been caught you won’t be on the register,” Mr Morcombe said.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s not a great step in the right direction. We think it is important to keeping Queenslanders safe.
“It will be important in the domino effect to get all of Australia up and running with a Daniel’s Law.”
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Under Queensland’s law, the register would have three tiers, including a public website with names and photos of offenders who breach reporting obligations.
The public would also be able to apply to find out which high-risk offenders live in their area.
Under the third tier, parents and guardians would be able to inquire about adults who have unsupervised time with their children.
Bruce Morcombe said other states and territories must follow Queensland’s lead for a national register to become a reality.
“We do want a publicly accessible sex offender register in each and every state and territory,” he said.
“Federally, it is impossible to do because it is reliant on the states and territories to supply information.
“So we are just waiting for each of the states and territories to come on board, see the merits of what Queensland is about to roll out, and do it themselves.”
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation was set up in 2005 by Mr Morcombe and his wife, Denise, teaching children of all ages about safety across Australia, and it will launch five new programs in the new year.
Mr Morcombe believed Daniel’s Law would complement the foundation’s good work and keep children safe.
However, he warned parents and guardians to remain vigilant.
“To ordinary mums and dads out there please, don’t fall into the trap of thinking ‘that won’t happen to me’,” he said.
“A publicly accessible sex offender register will be helpful. But at the end of the day you must look after your kids, make sure you are one step ahead of who they are chatting to online.”
The Liberal National government pushed through laws ushering in harsher sentences for child offenders after its successful “adult crime, adult time” election campaign.
Daniel’s Law will be part of the LNP’s next round of justice reform.
“That was the commitment the premier gave to Bruce and Denise as we honour the memory of Daniel but also ensure no other family will go through what Bruce and Denise had to go through,” Deputy Premier and MP for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said.
“It’s through their enduring legacy … that his memory lives on.”
The Morcombes were with Mr Bleijie at police headquarters at Brisbane on Monday to announce that nominations were open for the 2025 Queensland Greats Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding individuals who have made a significant contribution to Queensland, and who are exemplary role models, and also recognise public and private institutions that have played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s growth and development.
Queensland Greats Mr and Mrs Morcombe said they were proud to have their campaigning efforts recognised.
“Having our work to make communities safer for children recognised by the Queensland Greats Awards in 2020 has been a rewarding and humbling experience,” they stated.
“We are keeping company with some truly inspirational people who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of Queenslanders.
“The Queensland Greats Awards serve to shine a spotlight on important efforts from incredible people.”
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
