Child safety tour tackles online risks

CHILD abuse has “no place in a modern Australia”, the father of abducted and murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has told Tasmanians.

Bruce Morcombe launched Tour de Tassie in Hobart yesterday to raise awareness about child safety, particularly online dangers.

The two-week educational road show, involving the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Tasmania Police and the Australian Federal Police, will visit more than 20 schools across the state.

Mr Morcombe and wife Denise will deliver their ‘ Recognise, React, and Report’ child safety program to students.

“It makes a very powerful statement that crimes against children have no place in a modern Australia,” he said.

“What happened to Daniel is very rare in Australia so we will not be going there.

“But what we do know is that abuse of our kids by someone they do know in the real world or are chatting to online is a serious problem and the Tour de Tassie will certainly help to correct that.”

Daniel was abducted from a Queensland bus stop in 2003 as he headed out to do Christmas shopping.

The Morcombe family launched a dogged campaign for justice that would take more than a decade.

In 2014, Brett Peter Cowan was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years for Daniel’s murder.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said child safety was of the “utmost importance”.

“As we know, technology can be a wonderful thing ... but with all these benefits ... there is unfortunately a dark side,” he said.

“There’s cyber-bullying, sexting and even online predators.

“It’s our job as parents and law enforcers to make sure that our kids are properly prepared for taking part in the online world.”

The Tour de Tassie, in partnership with the Commonwealth Bank, will run from Monday to September 15.