CANBERRA, ACT, Oct. 3 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police Force

A Sydney man is expected to face Bankstown Local Court today (3 October, 2025) charged with allegedly possessing and sharing child abuse material online.

Investigations began after an online user uploaded child abuse material to a social media platform. Police allegedly linked the man, 26, to the illegal activity.

AFP and NSW Police Force officers executed a search warrant on a house in the Sydney suburb of Clemton Park on 2 October, 2025. Multiple electronic devices were located and seized.

The man was arrested and charged with:

* Two counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of theCriminal Code(Cth);* One count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of theCriminal Code(Cth); and* One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of theCriminal Code(Cth)

He was refused police bail and remanded to appear before court today.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.

About the ACCCE

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 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.

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.