Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The sexual abuse of children is intolerable. It is the most heinous crime that can be committed. Labor acknowledges the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the important work they do to improve children's safety. Labor will be supporting the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill 2017, and we will be strengthening it. Labor wants to send paedophiles to jail for longer. We believe the best way to achieve this is through higher penalties. We do not believe that mandatory minimum sentences will help keep children safe. In fact, the expert view from prosecutors, from police associations and from lawyers is that they do not work. Labor has no tolerance for child sexual abuse. We want to see this bill brought forward for debate, and we will be strengthening the bill to help keep children safe.

Question agreed to.