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13 August 2020, 6:07pm
Media Release

Hobart man charged with accessing child abuse material

An 18-year-old Tasmanian man faced Hobart Magistrates Court today (13 August 2020) after being charged with allegedly accessing child abuse material.

The investigation launched after the Australian Federal Police-led (AFP) Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received information from authorities in the United States in relation to alleged child exploitation offences committed by a Tasmanian resident.

The Tasmania Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising members of the AFP and Tasmania Police (TASPOL), executed two simultaneous search warrants in Hobart.

The man was later arrested at a third property and multiple electronic devices were seized for further digital forensic analysis.

The accused appeared before Hobart Magistrates Court today (13 August 2020) and was granted bail to reappear on 17 September 2020, charged with one count of using a carriage service to access child exploitation material contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth)

The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.

AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said that, while people may think accessing or sharing child abuse material is harmless, it is contributing to this vile and growing industry across the globe.

"Accessing child abuse material is not victimless. It's not just a photo or video on the internet. Each frame shows a child having their innocence forcibly taken. In accessing the material, you are complicit in the abuse," D/Sergeant Hardcastle said.

"This investigation shows that the AFP and our partners stand shoulder to shoulder in hunting down people who are involved in using, sharing and creating child abuse material. We are working tirelessly to protect those who do not have the means or mechanism to defend themselves."

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.

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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