Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

December 7, 2003, was a day I remember. I was working in the front yard in my house in Palmwoods when I heard the message come across the radio that a young boy had been taken from Palmwoods, from a bus stop. The entire community was in a sense of grief that day. I don't think I'll ever forget that. My eldest daughter used to go to school with Daniel. The sense of grief from the Sunshine Coast community was palpable, for years and years, whilst Daniel remained missing.

I think Australians will never forget the grief and pain that you must have been going through, Denise and Bruce. But you turned that grief into good. Whilst I think most families, most parents, would be inconsolable in their grief—I think most human beings would go into their shells—you two didn't. You used that as an opportunity to go out and spread the message of the risks that children face. I think each and every single one of us in this chamber—and every parent around this country—would look, in some degree of awe, at what you did. I know the work that you do is saving children's lives.

On behalf of my colleagues here, I want to thank you both so much for the work that you do. And I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for coming together and agreeing to fund you, moving forward.

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