CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 16 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint media release between AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF)
A south west Sydney man is expected to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court today (16 September, 2025) charged with allegedly soliciting and possessing child abuse material.
The AFP Child Protection Operations team charged the man, 58, on 21 July, 2025 at Sydney International Airport, after receiving a report of crime from Australian Border Force (ABF).
It will be alleged in court that ABF officers at Sydney Airport found suspicious messages on the man's electronic devices during a baggage examination on 21 April, 2025. ABF officers selected the man after he returned to Sydney on a flight from Southeast Asia.
It will be further alleged ABF officers discovered messages showing the traveller attempting to procure child abuse material. The matter was then referred to the AFP for investigation.
AFP officers seized the mobile phone and located images and video alleged to be child abuse material, which they linked to the messages allegedly containing negotiations to procure child abuse material.
AFP investigators later executed a search warrant at the man's Leppington home where they seized further forensic devices which will be subject to further forensic examination.
The man was subsequently charged with:
* One count of soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code(Cth); and* One count of using a carriage service to possess or control child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The man appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on 22 July, 2025 and was granted conditional bail to reappear today.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the AFP worked closely with partners in Australia and across the world to protect children, irrespective of their location.
"Every action online leaves a trace and the AFP, along with its state, Commonwealth and international partners are working tirelessly to identify anyone involved in the harm of children, no matter their location or nationality," Det Supt Needham said.
"Australian citizens should not be lulled into the belief that they are out of the reach of the AFP if they commit offences while they are overseas.
"Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators."
ABF Inspector Neil Singh said his officers have a zero-tolerance approach to child exploitation material and are alert to the indicators that people may be travelling with this abhorrent material both in and out of Australia.
"This is a key focus for the Australian Border Force, we're committed to playing a leading role in identifying and stamping out the movement of this sickening material across the border," Insp Singh said.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE 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. 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.
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 the ThinkUKnow website, 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 theACCCE website.
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.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
