Man charged over alleged possession of child abuse material
The Tasmania Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) has charged a man following an investigation into alleged possession child abuse material.
The man, 27, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday (8 October, 2026) and is next expected to re-appear in the same court on 3 February, 2026.
An investigation into the man started after the Tasmania JACET, comprising the AFP and Tasmania Police, received reports about a user allegedly transmitting child abuse material on several online platforms.
Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant at a Battery Point address yesterday (8 October, 2026), seizing a mobile phone and a laptop allegedly containing child abuse material.
The 27-year-old Indian national was charged with one count of possess child abuse material accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Commander Nick Read said the AFP and its partners would continue to target people who allegedly accessed, shared or possessed child abuse material.
“Behind every piece of child abuse material is a real victim who has been harmed,” Commander Read said.
“Our investigators work every day to identify individuals allegedly engaging with child abuse material online and are committed to pursuing every case reported.
“Working alongside Tasmania Police through the Tasmania JACET, we will continue to pursue those suspected of contributing to the exploitation of children, wherever they are operating.”
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.