A 30-year-old man is expected to face court today (Tuesday 29 June 2021), charged with child abuse-related offences by officers from the Australian Federal Police Child Protection Operations.
The man was charged following a report to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Investigators allegedly linked the man to child abuse material accessed via Snapchat, Dropbox and other online accounts.
Police conducted a search warrant at the man's Kawungan home in March 2021, where a smart phone was taken for further examination.
The man was charged with possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, using a carriage service to access child abuse material and using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.
The maximum penalty for each of these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
He is expected to appear before Hervey Bay Magistrates Court today (29 June 2021).
AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the AFP is committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone who shares child abuse material online.
"The AFP will never stop our work to protect children online and this arrest is a reminder to those who seek to share or access child abuse material - we will find you," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
The ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.
The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
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 or report online.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
