Debra Ann Byrne was born on 30 March 1957 in Fitzroy to Norman Owen Byrne (born ca. 19282014) and Verna Alice née Reid (ca. 19301980). She was the fifth of six children, her siblings are Lynda, Cheryl, Sandra (ca. 19511970), Peter and Robyn. Norman worked as an engineering foreman; he became violent when drunk. According to Byrne she was sexually abused by her maternal grandfather, Ken Reid, from a young age until 13. In 1993 Byrne dropped the usage of "Debbie" as her first name.