Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the Daniel Morcombe Foundation was established as a lasting legacy to Daniel by parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe in 2005 after their son Daniel was abducted and murdered in December 2003 while waiting to catch a bus on the Sunshine Coast, and

(ii)   the foundation has two main aims: to educate children on how to stay safe in a physical and online environment, and to support young victims of crime;

(b)   recognises the important work of the foundation in:

(i)   assisting educators and parents in the education of children about their personal safety, by funding the development of child safety educational resources,

(ii)   assisting young victims of crime through financial support in addition to that provided by Government agencies, and

(iii)   empowering all Australians to make their own local communities safer places for children;

(c)   congratulates Denise and Bruce Morcombe on their selfless and tireless work to protect children from harm and recognise their call for the establishment of a national 'Sex Offender and Child Homicide Offender Public Website', known as Daniel's Law, which would list 'the worst of the worst' child sex offenders, including those convicted of killing a child; and

(d)   calls on the Federal Government to establish a working group comprising state and territory government representatives, law enforcement, child safety advocates and other relevant professionals to consider and develop solutions to issues affecting children's safety, including for example the possible viability of the establishment of such a register.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The federal government is committed to protecting children from the dangers of sexual and physical exploitation and abuse wherever it may occur. Under Australia's federal system of government, the Commonwealth, states and territory governments have different areas of responsibility and child protection matters fall within the responsibility of states and territories. Discussion on advancement in ways to protect children are ongoing between state and federal authorities, and stakeholder contributions are an important part of those considerations.

Within the family law portfolio responsibilities of the Attorney-General, the Attorney-General's Department continues to work with the family law courts in the states and territories to improve the interface between the family law system and state and territory child protection systems. The purpose of this work is to promote the best interests of children and protect them from harm. The government is considering the findings of the interim report from the Family Law Council on the issue of families with complex needs, including violence, that intersect Commonwealth family law and state and territory child protection systems. The establishment of a national child protection database would be a significant undertaking from a policy, legislative and technical perspective, and would require the agreement of all jurisdictions.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor have the greatest respect for the Morcombe family and in particular for the ongoing wonderful work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. We support measures which will keep Australian children safe from abuse. However, we are not convinced that a national sex offender registry is an appropriate path forward. This proposal was already put to COAG in 2014 and was rejected by the Commonwealth and every state and territory except the Northern Territory. There are a number of concerns about such a registry, including the fact that there is no clear evidence to indicate it would reduce offending or make children safer; concerns that publication could lead to identification and further trauma of victims; concerns that publication could discourage reporting of abuse; and ongoing concerns about encouragement of vigilante action and the disruption of rehabilitation.

Question negatived.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It being past 12.45, we will now proceed to government business orders of the day.