CANBERRA, ACT, March 27 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force
A West Australian man is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (27 March, 2026) charged with trying to procure children in the Philippines for sexual activity.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected the man, 53, for a baggage examination following his arrival into Perth on an international flight yesterday (26 March, 2026).
During an examination of the man's mobile phone, ABF officers detected online communications with individuals overseas allegedly seeking to procure children for sexual activity, along with child abuse material, and reported the matter to the AFP.
AFP investigators attended the airport and upon further examination of the device, identified conversations allegedly about engaging in sexual activity with minors based in the Philippines on an instant messaging application, along with videos containing child abuse material.
The AFP charged the man with:
* Two counts of engaging in conduct in relation to a child with the intention of procuring the child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, contrary to section 272.14(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;* One count of engaging in an act with the intention for, or planning for an offence against Division 272 of the Criminal Code (Cth), involving sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia, namely an offence against section 272.8(1) of the Criminal Code, contrary to section 272.20(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment; and* Two counts of accessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
Investigations - including the involvement of international partners - remain ongoing.
AFP Acting Inspector Josh Gilmour said the AFP was committed to working with partners both in Australia and around the world to combat the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
"Whether a person is allegedly attempting to carry out offences against children here or overseas, the AFP and partners have the capability to detect their activities and place them before the court," a/Insp Gilmour said.
"The exploitation and abuse of children are among the most serious matters we deal with, which is why investigators work tirelessly to identify and apprehend those who seek harm minors."
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said ABF officers were often the first line of defence at the border against individuals seeking to exploit and abuse children.
"These crimes cause devastating harm, and we do not hesitate to act decisively when we find child abuse material or plans to sexually abuse children on passenger devices at the airport," Supt Eldridge said.
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 the ACCCE 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.
