Queensland makes Pornographic Child Animations a Criminal Offence

The Queensland Criminal Law (Child Exploitation And Dangerous Drugs) Amendment Bill 2012 has made it through the Queensland lower house on the 16th April 2013. The Bill will shortly be added to the list of Queensland 2013 assented Acts.

Primary Objective

The Bill was designed to amend the Criminal Code of Queensland to change the definition of ‘child exploitation material’ in section 207A to ensure that animated or virtual images of children are caught by the definition. On top of this, new sections will be inserted to cover circumstances of sexual offences committed against a child with a physical impairment of the mind.

Further to this, a new offence of ‘grooming’ will also be introduced. This basically covers circumstances in which an adult engages in any conduct in relation to a child with the intent to facilitate the procurement of the child to engage in sexual acts or expose the child to any indecent matter.

Achievement of Objectives

The Queensland Government has been conducting its Six Month Action Plan to amend laws to address child pornography and some child sex offences including the new child grooming offence. The Act will set out new maximum penalties to reflect the seriousness of these offences and its abusive nature of children. The Act will align the penalties with comparable Commonwealth offences.

Conclusion

Children who are used in the production of exploitative materials are often terribly abused and suffer severe trauma as a result. Consequently, this Bill, once assented, will be a landmark step forward towards greater and necessary protection for children to ensure a safer future for Queensland, and Australia as a whole.

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