News Centre

This is a joint media release with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.

A New South Wales man was sentenced to two years, six months and one day for child exploitation offences, after an AFP child protection operation.

The Oatlands man, 57, faced the Downing Centre District Court yesterday (23 June, 2023) and was sentenced in relation to three child abuse offences.

The AFP investigation began on 1 March, 2022, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected the man’s baggage for random screening at Sydney Airport upon his arrival back into Australia from an overseas flight.

During the examination, ABF officers located a USB device which was found to contain child exploitation material files on it.

AFP Child Protection Operation officers then arrested and charged the Oatlands man with:

• One count of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia, contrary to 272.14 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• One count of intentionally importing prohibited tier two goods without approval, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).

On 2 March, 2022, AFP officers executed a search warrant at the man’s home in Sydney, locating and seizing two additional USB drives containing child abuse material. An examination of the man’s phone also revealed contact with a woman based in the Philippines who it is alleged on one occasion produced child abuse material for the 57-year-old.

Information was provided to the AFP Manila post and in October 2022, the woman in question was identified and arrested by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and three children were removed from harm.

The man was sentenced to two years, six months and one day’s imprisonment with a non-parole period of one year, six months and one day.

AFP Detective Inspector Jeremy Staunton said the investigation highlighted how closely police around the world worked together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.

"Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts," D/Insp Staunton said.

“This arrest should serve as a warning that as an agency we are dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court.”

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.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit www.accce.gov.au.

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.

Media enquiries:
AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297

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