Published Yesterday at 04:21 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for Veterans
The Honourable David Crisafulli

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
The Honourable Dan Purdie

Delivering Daniel’s Law to protect Queensland children

  • Crisafulli Government has introduced landmark Daniel’s Law to Queensland Parliament, delivering the State’s first public child sex offender register.
  • Three-tiered disclosure scheme outlines how Queenslanders will access the information they need to protect their children. 
  • Three new offences will help protect against misuse of information or vigilantism. 
  • Crisafulli Government is delivering to make Queensland safer in its first 10 months, after 10 years of decline under Labor. 

The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live and delivering on its key election promise to establish a public child sex offender register, with legislation introduced to Parliament today. 

Daniel’s Law will establish the Community Protection and Child Sex Offender Public Register in Queensland, allowing parents to access to information to better protect their children. 

The Bill will be referred to a Parliamentary Committee for review before coming back to the Parliament, with the Government to deliver on its promise for Daniel’s Law to be law before the end of the year.  

The Public Register is the next phase of the Making Queensland Safer Laws and modelled closely on the proven West Australian system established in 2012, creating a three-tiered disclosure framework: 

  • Tier 1: a publicly available website for reportable offenders who have failed to comply with their obligations and their whereabouts is unknown to police. The offenders full name, photograph and year of birth will be accessible by members of the public, but they must agree not to misuse the information.
  • Tier 2: online application for Queensland residents to view photographs of reportable offenders living in their local area. 
  • Tier 3: online application for parents and guardians to confirm whether a particular person who has had, or will have, unsupervised contact with their child, is a reportable offender. 

A reportable offence is defined in the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004 and includes offences like grooming of a child under 16, indecent treatment of a child, making or distributing child exploitation material. 

Daniel’s Law is named in honour of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe, whose life was tragically taken in 2003. Daniel’s Law follows two decades of advocacy from his parents, and through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. 

The Bill will be supported by the introduction of three new offences prohibiting the misuse of information.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering the strongest child protection system in the nation, which includes a fast-tracked reportable conduct scheme which has been brought forward to start in July in 2026, the Blue Card Protection Review and the launch of a Child Safety Commission of Inquiry. 

Premier David Crisafulli said Daniel’s Law was an important step towards restoring safety where you live. 

“We are equipping parents with information to make decisions for the safety and wellbeing of their kids,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“For too long, convicted predators have been allowed to hide right under the noses of Queensland families. 

“What happened to Daniel Morcombe was a tragedy that rocked our State but now Daniel’s Law will help protect children who can’t protect themselves. 

“While no system will ever be perfect, we want to give parents the best possible chance to protect their children. 

“We are putting the rights of victims and parents ahead of the rights of offenders.” 

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the introduction of Daniel’s Law marked one of the most significant reforms to child safety laws in Queensland’s history. 

“Daniel’s Law is about giving parents, carers and communities the power to make informed choices to protect their children,” Minister Purdie said. 

“This scheme is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring that the worst repeat offenders cannot hide in the shadows. 

“Labor had 10 years in government to act on Bruce and Denise Morcombe’s calls for a public sex offender register, but they did nothing for a decade. 

“We promised to deliver Daniel’s Law and we’re doing just that.” 

Bruce and Denise Morcombe said the introduction of Daniel’s Law was the culmination of years of advocacy for stronger child protection laws. 

“We are deeply proud that Daniel’s name will live on through this legislation, giving parents across Queensland the ability to better protect their children,” Bruce and Denise Morcombe said. 

“Daniel’s legacy is one of safety and awareness, and Daniel’s Law will ensure that continues.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Cam Inglis 0412 084 743