QUEENSLAND Premier Peter Beattie could meet the parents of murdered backpacker Caroline Stuttle when he visits Britain later this year.

Caroline, 19, from Huntington, York, was assaulted and thrown from a bridge to her death in the Australian town of Bundaberg last Wednesday.

A spokesman for Mr Beattie, who is also Minister for Trade for Queensland, said today that if Caroline's parents, Alan and Marjorie Stuttle, wish to meet him he will make time in his schedule when he visits the UK as part of a ten-day trade mission in October.

Earlier Mr Beattie, speaking in Parliament in Queensland, sent his condolences to the Stuttle family.

He said: "As a father, I know I would be devastated if something happened to my daughter half a world away.

"The people of Bundaberg and the surrounding district - already deeply affected by the Childers backpackers tragedy - have expressed their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family of Ms Stuttle.

"They acted spontaneously in demonstrating their horror at what had happened and to express their feelings to the family and friends of this young visitor to their community.

"I thank them for their compassion, decency and humanity." Caroline's body was expected to arrive at Manchester Airport this afternoon. The York Coroner is then expected to open and adjourn an inquest.

- Following the hostel fire in Childers in 2000 when 15 people died, Mr Beattie met the parents of some of the British victims.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, April 18, 2002