Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am passionate about ensuring our kids are safe in our community and online. The Morrison government can be rightly proud that it established Australia's first e-Safety Commissioner and passed new laws to create longer mandatory sentences. I recently visited the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, which is based in Brisbane. I witnessed firsthand our dedicated AFP officers, who are investigating over 18,000 reports of the most vile and disgusting child exploitation material. Their efforts tracking and engaging with perpetrators over the dark web come at a great personal cost to them. But they have one simple message for the rest of us and this parliament: don't underestimate how prevalent this vile behaviour is. That's why, in January 2019, the Morrison government announced funding to establish a national public register of child sex offenders, containing information about convicted child sex offenders, including names, aliases, offences, physical descriptions and postcode locations. The national public register is vital to deter offending, prevent reoffending and raise public awareness of the prevalent risk to our community. But, just recently, the state Labor government in Queensland voted against establishing the register. Plain and simple, their failure to support the register or contribute to it is endangering our kids, and it's time to send a strong message. I've established a petition on my Facebook page that I urge everyone to join. Let's work together to send a strong message to Queensland Labor that their de facto protection of paedophiles is not acceptable.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Ryan, I didn't quite hear everything you said—

Mr Watts interjecting—

I am addressing the House. The member for Gellibrand is about to be ejected. The member for Ryan needs to withdraw that statement.

Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At your direction, I withdraw.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ryan will come back to the microphone. When you're asked to withdraw, you do so without commentary in any way, shape or form.

Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My apologies. I withdraw.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Ryan.