Morcombe family welcomes national child sex offenders register plan

The parents of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe believe plans for a national public register of child sex offenders will improve the protection of Australian children.

In the “toughest crackdown on pedophiles” in national history, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is attempting to win support from the states for the first-of-its-kind national registry.

The register would make information such as the name, age, location and photograph of the offender available to the public.

“It’s not too soft, not too hard,” Mr Dutton said.

“This is not a silver bullet, but it’s the latest step in the government’s fight to keep kids safe.”

Daniel Morcombe went missing from a Sunshine Coast bus stop in 2003 and convicted sex offender Brett Peter Cowan was charged with his murder in 2011.

Daniel's father, Bruce Morcombe, told 9News he would welcome the introduction of the national register.

“We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can focus on what we can change,” he said.

“(With the register) the criminal comes second. What is number one is protecting our kids.

“It will protect kids.”

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For the plan to go ahead, Mr Dutton would need the support of state and territory governments, as well as law enforcement agencies.

The idea has also attracted opposition from those who have questioned its effectiveness.

Hetty Johnston, the founder of leading child protection organisation Bravehearts, said registers can be expensive and bypass the 90 percent of sex offenders who live undetected in the community.

“I want to know where they are – I want to know they’re in jail,” she said.

Ms Johnston also took aim at politicians who are interested in implementing the register just to win political points.

“It’s winning votes on the backs of children’s lives,” she said.

“I’m dying for a politician who gives a s--- about our kids.”