Qld sex offender register: 10-year jail terms for vigilante attacks

Parents will gain unprecedented access to sex offender information under Daniel’s law, but there will be severe consequences for vigilante actions.

The new sex offenders register is named for Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, who was murdered in 2004.

People who misuse Queensland’s public sex offender register to incite violence or harass paedophiles face up to 10 years’ jail under new laws designed to stop vigilantism.

The Courier-Mail can reveal three new offences will be created to prevent people misusing the register, which will be established through legislation dubbed “Daniel’s law” after murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.

Queenslanders will be able to access the name, photograph and year of birth of offenders released on supervision orders for child sex offences who have failed to comply with obligations and whose whereabouts are unknown.

A separate locality search function will allow people to apply to view images of reportable offenders living in their community.

The locality search will include people who are repeat offenders, have reporting obligations imposed for life or who are subject to a supervision order.

Parents and guardians will also be able to apply for confirmation whether a person who has unsupervised contact with their child is a reportable offender.

Fears about people using the register to engage in vigilante behaviour will prompt the government to create three new offences prohibiting the misuse of information accessed on the public register.

Queenslanders who use information on the register to incite violence or harass an offender carries face a maximum jail term of 10 years and the unauthorised sharing of information on the register carries a maximum three-year sentence.

Premier David Crisafulli said the register would equip parents with the information needed to keep their kids safe.

Police Minister Dan Purdie

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

“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.”

On December 7, 2003, 13-year-old Daniel was abducted and murdered on the Sunshine Coast by a man with an extensive history of sexually abusing children.

Bruce Morcombe, who alongside wife Denise turned their grief into a two-decade fight to improve child safety, said the public sex offender register was Daniel’s legacy at work.

“We’re really proud of the efforts that have been made in lots of different areas but this is definitely right up there as one of the most significant,” he said.

“This is not the silver bullet. It’s not the be all and end all.

“But we’ve got to make sure that as technology changes … that we are on the front foot and making sure we shut that down and look after our kids as much as possible.”

Ms Morcombe said while the milestone would be celebrated, Daniel’s chapter had not closed.

“Once Queensland starts, we hope … the rest of the country will have a register and hopefully it will be national,” she said.

Police Minister and Sunshine Coast MP Dan Purdie said the government was shining a light into some of the darkest corners of the state in the name of safety and protection.

“This is about empowering Queenslanders, not encouraging vigilantes,” he said.

“We know the most powerful protection for children is awareness. By giving families knowledge, we’re putting power in their hands to greater protect their children.

“We are shining the light into some of the darkest corners of our state in the name of safety and protection.

“This is about empowering Queenslanders, not encouraging vigilantes. The register is a tool for education, not retribution.”