Sonya Ryan knows her daughter would be wondering why her pyjamas are on display in Parliament House in Canberra.
A unique memorial to Carly Ryan was unveiled as politicians agreed to pass legislation in her honour to catch online child predators sooner.
“If Carly was here right now, she'd say 'Mum, why are my pyjamas in Parliament?'” Sony Ryan said.
A quilt made from Carly’s favourite clothes is part of her family’s effort to ensure her tragic death is never forgotten.
The 15-year-old was murdered in 2007 by a man posing online as an 18-year-old musician.
Fifty-year-old Gary Newman met the Ryan family in person, pretending to be his online alter-egos’ stepfather.
After initially being rejected by Carly Ryan, Gary Newman eventually murdered her at a Port Elliott beach and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010.
“She was such a light, such a compassionate and loving girl, and today is about acknowledging her legacy and acknowledging the difference she has made to Australian children,” Sonya Ryan told politicians and supporters.
After several years of debate and attempts to change child grooming laws, the Turnbull Government will table a new bill which aims to strengthen the law and punishments for offenders.
Otherwise known as Carly’s Law, it will make it illegal for an adult to lie about their age with the intent of causing harm or engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
“At any one time in the online environment, there could be up to 750,000 online child sex predators. We must protect our children from this danger,” Justice Minister Michael Keenan said.
“Anyone found guilty of this crime will serve up to ten years in prison and what this will enable the police to do is to intervene much earlier and protect our kids from harm.”
