News Centre

A Western Australia man has appeared before the Perth Magistrates Court today (15 September) after being charged with accessing and possessing child abuse material.

The WA Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) allegedly identified the man during an investigation which began with a report from the Department of Home Affairs about an Australian man who had recently travelled overseas.

A search warrant was executed at the man’s home in Baldivis – on Perth’s southern outskirts – on 14 September, with investigators finding child abuse material on several electronic devices. The devices, including a laptop computer and mobile phone, were seized and will be subject to further forensic examination.

Detective Sergeant Karen Addiscott said the police worked closely with state and commonwealth partners to identify signs of child abuse and exploitation.

“Predators think they can hide their tracks by keeping their abhorrent activities offline, but our investigators work tirelessly to find any shred of information that will help keep children safe, in Australia and overseas,” she said.

The man was charged with:

• Accessing child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
• Possessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 220 of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA)

The maximum penalty for the offences is 15 years' and seven years’ imprisonment, respectively. He is next due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on 27 September 2023.

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.

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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