House of Representatives Date: 30 October 2025
Andrew Wallace MP:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Tomorrow morning, more than 8,000 schools across the nation will take part in Day for Daniel, honouring the memory of Daniel Morcombe and reminding every Australian to keep our children safe.
Bruce and Denise Morcombe have turned unimaginable loss into national leadership. Their work through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has given parents, teachers and communities the tools to educate, empower and protect children right across Australia. On behalf of the Sunshine Coast and this Parliament, I thank them for their extraordinary service.
As we speak, the Queensland LNP Government is delivering Daniel’s Law. It is legislation designed to strengthen child protection and to prevent another tragedy like Daniel’s. It is a landmark reform as well as the state’s first child sex offender register. It will arm parents with the information they need.
Yet here, in the Federal Parliament, this Labor Government continues to gag debate on our own bill to protect the most vulnerable children in our country. Four times we’ve sought to debate the Crimes Amendment (Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Child Sexual Abuse) Bill, and four times Labor has voted to stop it.
They make the right noises, but when push comes to shove they block it. When the nation demands tougher sentences, they block it. When survivors cry out for justice, they block it. When Parliament could act to protect kids, they block it.
Tomorrow thousands of children will wear red to remember Daniel. The least this Parliament can do is to show the same courage as Bruce and Denise [Morecombe]
END
Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
