MEMBER for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams used a speech in Parliament during National Missing Persons Week to highlight the tragic disappearance of William Tyrrell.
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"Kendall on the beautiful Mid North Coast is a picturesque, quiet, closely knit community that on the September 12 last year was thrown into the national spotlight for all of the wrong reasons.
"It was on that fateful day that then three-year-old William Tyrrell went missing from the front yard of his grandparent's home," Mrs Williams said.
"Despite a huge search of the Kendall area involving police, SES personnel and hundreds of volunteers and police canvassing everyone in the Kendall community, so far nothing has lead to the discovery of young William.
"(Tuesday) morning in Port Macquarie, the Where's William campaign team used National Missing Persons Week to launch the next phase of the almost year long search.
"Along the Pacific Highway billboards have been erected of a young, happy and smiling little boy that ask anyone passing by if they know "Where's William?"
"It is that smiling face that is being used as one of the faces of National Missing Persons Week," Mrs Williams said.
"Like many of the 35,000 people who are reported missing each year in Australia, it would appear that William has simply vanished.
"But unlike the majority of those 35,000 people, the community of the Mid North Coast and in fact thousands of people across the country have rallied together to try and find answers to William's disappearance.
"The Where's William Facebook page has attracted more than 15,000 likes, so it is clear that a lot of people want to help.
"Someone, somewhere knows what happened to William Tyrrell. Police, William's family and our community are pleading for anyone with information to come forward and report what they know about his disappearance," Mrs Williams said.
"Police has spoken to people of interest, but to date no-one has been charged with an offence directly related to William.
"Let us hope that will change with the latest push for information during National Missing Persons Week.
"On September 12, to mark the first anniversary of his disappearance, a national campaign will commence saturating communities across Australia with posters of William.
"An information flyer will also be sent to every household between Taree and Kempsey asking "Where's William?"
"If anyone has information on the whereabouts of William Tyrrell or in fact any missing person I urge them to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
