Bruce and Denise Morcombe announced the opening of submissions for the landmark Daniel’s Law at Daniel House in Palmwoods on Wednesday 3 September.
The law establishes Queensland’s first public child sex offender register.
They were joined by the Chair of the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee and Member for Nicklin, Marty Hunt.
Daniel’s Law is named in honour of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe, whose life was tragically taken in 2003.
It follows two decades of advocacy from his parents, and through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Modelled on the proven West Australian scheme, the law introduces a three-tier disclosure framework for public access to offender information.
Denise said, “Last week, the Bill was finally introduced into the Queensland Government and we’ve had overwhelming support from everybody that we’ve met in the street, phone calls, and so many people on social media saying how great it is going to be. We just think it’s a great idea.”
When asked if this law would’ve made a difference for Daniel’s case, Bruce said, “Our short answer is probably not because Daniel was abducted off the side of the road by somebody he did not know and later murdered. So, that is a very heinous crime in Australia but fortunately one that’s not repeated terribly often, and we don’t want it ever repeated.”
Denise added, “But we do know that if that sort of law was introduced back in 2003, Daniel’s family could have put in an application to find out about Cowan because they did not know of his past history.”
Bruce said, “Certainly if they make an application under tier one, tier two and tier three, as the planned legislation is, Cowan would’ve shown up to those making an application under tier two and tier three. So he would be identified to the general public and those close to Cowan himself. And that’s a good thing.”
Brett Peter Cowan is serving a life sentence for the 2003 abduction and murder of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe on the Sunshine Coast. Cowan was arrested in Perth in 2011 following an extensive undercover police operation. Daniel’s remains were discovered near the Glass House Mountains, around 40km from where he disappeared. Cowan was convicted in 2014.
Former police officer, Marty Hunt MP, said, “Denise and Bruce have advocated for this for a long time and I’m very proud to be here with them today introducing this Bill.”
The Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Marty Hunt, will consider submissions and report before MPs debate the Bill.
Submissions for Daniel’s Law are open until 10 September.
