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A Tasmanian man, 45, has been jailed for two years and six months after facing the Hobart Supreme Court yesterday (26 April 2023) for possessing and accessing online child abuse material.

The investigation began when the AFP Child Protection Triage Unit (CPTU) received multiple reports from the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material on social media between 2016 and 2020.

Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) officers linked the man to the offending account before they executed a search warrant at the man’s home on 29 October 2020. During the search warrant, investigators found child abuse material on multiple electronic devices belonging to the man.

The man pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
• Using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the sentencing today demonstrates the AFP’s commitment to investigate and charge offenders believed to be involved in child exploitation and sexual abuse.

“Today should serve as a warning that law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” D/Sergeant Hardcastle said.

“The AFP is relentless in their pursuit of anyone sharing or accessing child abuse material, but we will always need the community’s help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.”

The man was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment with a non-parole of seven months.

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or . If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.

An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE ‘Closing The Net’ is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a ‘whole-of-community’ response.

The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the podcast on your favourite streaming platform.

If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at .

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at , an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.