A landmark public sex offender register has officially launched in Queensland, granting residents controlled access to information about nearly 4000 convicted paedophiles living in the state.
A Long-Awaited Tool for Community Safety
The register, established under Daniel's Law, went live at 11am on Wednesday. It allows Queenslanders to search by locality and view photos, names, and other details of offenders. The system is a direct response to years of advocacy, most notably from Bruce and Denise Morcombe, whose son Daniel was abducted and murdered in 2003 by Brett Peter Cowan, a twice-convicted child sex offender.
"For too long, monsters were able to hide in plain sight," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said when the legislation was passed. The Morcombe family believes this register would have saved their son's life. "We hope that Daniel's Law will go national," they stated.
Three-Tiered System and Access Process
The register operates on a three-tiered system designed to provide different levels of information based on need and legal authority.
Tier 1 lists offenders released from jail on supervision orders for child sex offences, those who have failed to comply with reporting obligations, and individuals whose whereabouts are unknown to authorities.
Tier 2 enables searches for high-risk offenders in specific local areas. This tier includes repeat offenders and those subject to lifelong reporting obligations.
Tier 3 is a specific application process for parents, guardians, grandparents, and long-term carers. They can apply for information about a particular person who may have contact with a child in their care. Applicants must provide evidence of guardianship and details of the child's contact with the individual.
To access any tier, users must first verify their identity through the government's MyID or a QGov replacement. While verification takes minutes, the application to access the register itself can take up to a week to process.
Strict Rules and Responsible Use
The published information on offenders can include photos, year of birth, tattoos, and other distinguishing characteristics. Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski determines which tier an offender is listed under and has vowed, "We will be relentless in chasing down child sex offenders."
Authorities have issued a strong warning for the public to use the information responsibly. Harassing or threatening listed individuals is illegal. Publishing or sharing the details on social media is strictly prohibited. People who use the information for vigilantism face severe penalties, including a maximum jail term of 10 years.
As of September 2025, there are 3,240 reportable child sex offenders recorded on the Queensland Child Protection Register. The public can access the new system at www.danielslaw.qld.gov.au.
