Man arrested for possessing online child abuse material

A 45-year-old Rasmussen man is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today, following his arrest by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for possessing online child abuse material.

The AFP conducted an investigation following a referral from the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Cybertip Hotline, alleging inappropriate text material in a 'chat' environment.

Australian legislation regarding child pornography and child abuse materials includes text, not just images, depictions and videos.

As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was executed by the AFP in Rasmussen in the Townsville area yesterday, where a computer was seized.

The man has been charged with using a carriage service to access child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 andpossessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 228D of the Queensland Criminal Code 1899 (Qld).

Parents, teachers and carers can find out more about protecting children online at www.thinkuknow.org.au.

The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years imprisonment.

Note to media:

CHILD ABUSE IMAGES - NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’

Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ actually benefits child sex abusers:

• It indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• It conjures up images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

The AFP recommends that when commenting on the offences committed the term ‘child abuse images’ is used and not ‘child pornography’.