Daniel’s Law Passed: Queensland to Introduce Public Child Sex Offender Registry
Queensland has passed new legislation to establish a public child sex offender register, named Daniel’s Law, in honour of Daniel Morcombe, the Sunshine Coast teenager abducted and murdered in 2003 by a twice-convicted paedophile.
The new law creates a three-tier register allowing certain information about reportable child sex offenders to be disclosed.
Photos and details of offenders who breach reporting obligations or evade police will be posted on a government website.
Community members will be able to request images of offenders in their area, while parents and carers may apply to the police to confirm whether adults with unsupervised access to their children appear on the register.
Daniel Morcombe’s mother, Denise Morcombe, welcomed the reform, describing it as the culmination of 15 years of advocacy to improve child safety. Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the register gives investigators another tool to protect children and track offenders.
The law also introduces three new offences to prevent misuse of register information, with penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Police Minister Dan Purdie said these measures aim to deter vigilante behaviour. The register is expected to be active by the end of 2025 and is backed by $10 million in funding.
While the legislation received bipartisan support, concerns were raised by the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties and Legal Aid Queensland, who argued that public registers do not reduce re-offending, may create a false sense of security, and risk exposing child victims.
The reform reflects Queensland’s efforts to strengthen child protection, even as debate continues over its effectiveness and potential unintended harms.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), every child has the right to protection from violence, abuse, and exploitation. Measures to safeguard children must be designed and implemented in ways that prioritize their safety, dignity, privacy, and long-term well-being.
