Brisbane man to face court for alleged child abuse material offences
**Editor’s note: Images from this investigation are available via Hightail.
A Brisbane man who allegedly transmitted child abuse material online is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court today (23 April 2021).
The 43-year-old Forest Lake man was issued with notices to appear by the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) on 11 March 2021 for two offences, after police allegedly found child abuse material on his mobile phone.
The investigation was launched after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) received a report from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material using Facebook and Kik Messenger platforms.
Brisbane JACET, which consists of officers from the AFP and Queensland Police, allegedly identified the 43-year-old man as the person using the accounts.
The man was issued with a notice to appear on two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said the investigation was an example of the AFP’s relentless effort to target those seeking to access or spread child abuse material online and bring them before the court.
“The AFP, our partners in law enforcement across Australia and around the world are keeping a watch online for those who spread this vile material, to protect these children from further harm,” she said.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available, visit the ACCCE to learn more.
Note to media:
USE OF TERM ‘CHILD ABUSE’ MATERIAL NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
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