Shadow Minister for Child Safety Stephen Bennett has urged the Labor Palaszczuk Government to join the conversation about the introduction of a national register for child sex offenders.
The Commonwealth proposal would see the establishment of an online register and include the offender’s name, location and other details relating to offences they’ve committed.
The Queensland LNP said it would be appropriate to name any new law “Daniel’s Law” after Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe who was abducted and murdered by known paedophile Brett Peter Cowan in 2003.
The member for Burnett, father and grandfather said keeping Queensland children safe is the number one priority for the LNP.
“We must ensure our kids are safe from these predators,” Mr Bennett said.
“An online sex offender registry would keep parents informed and provide them crucial information.
“Unfortunately many children may never tell that they have experienced harm, so it’s up to us as parents to do all that we can to ensure our children and their friends never have to experience abuse.
“More needs to be done to address child safety in Queensland, and it can start right now if this Government is willing to act.
“It’s time for Labor to put community safety first and introduce “Daniel’s Law” as a lasting legacy for a young boy whose life was taken far too soon.
“We cannot afford to be soft on crime, especially when we’re talking about the lives of our children and grandchildren.”
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said the LNP has a strong record after introducing tough criminal law reforms, including mandatory life imprisonment for repeat child sex offenders, increasing penalties for child exploitation material and mandatory 12 months jail for a sex offender who tampers with their GPS tracking device.
“Convicted child sex offenders are the worst of the worst and more needs to be done to empower and enable parents to protect their kids,” Mr Mander said.
“Last year the LNP introduced legislation to crackdown on dangerous sex offenders by locking up these monsters and we think a public sex offender register is another tool to give Queensland parents peace-of-mind that their children are safe.”
09.01.19