A Far North Queensland man is expected to appear in Innisfail Magistrates Court today (18 May, 2026) charged with 34 online child abuse offences.
In 2024, the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received information relating to an Australian resident allegedly in contact with a known online child abuse facilitator in the Philippines.
The AFP Northern Command Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NC JACET) allegedly linked the man to illegal online activity and executed a search warrant at his Innisfail home in January, 2025.
Investigators located seven devices as well as information suggesting the man had allegedly paid to watch a child being sexually abused on video.
A subsequent forensics examination of the devices allegedly revealed more than eight thousand child abuse material videos and image files.
It will be alleged the man engaged in more than 40 live sex shows via an online social media platform involving four female victims located in the Philippines.
AFP are working with international partners to identify and locate the victims with a view to remove them from further harm.
The man was arrested by the AFP on 29 January, 2025 and charged with one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The man, 38, will now face the following additional charges:
- Six counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, contrary to s272.11(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 25 years' imprisonment, with two counts having a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and maximum penalty of 30 years.
- Five counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, contrary to s272.9(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment, with one count having a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and maximum penalty of 20 years.
- One count of making child exploitation material, contrary to s228B(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 20 years' imprisonment.
- Six counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
- Five counts of using a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self, contrary to s474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
- Two counts of soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
- One count of using a carriage service to solicit child pornography material, contrary to s474.19(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
- Seven counts of offences of 'grooming' a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary to s272.15(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 12 years' imprisonment.
- One count of possessing or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22AA(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty of this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said children were not objects to be harmed for the gratification of predators.
"The AFP works closely with police around the world to combat the exploitation and abuse of children," Det-Supt Telfer said.
"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."
NC JACET comprises AFP and Queensland Police Service members.
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.
