Australian Federal Police (AFP), Media Release, 18 June 2025

A Queensland man, 63, is scheduled to face Cairns Magistrates Court today (18 June, 2025) charged with allegedly producing child abuse material in the Philippines. 

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched the man’s phone after he returned to Australia on an international flight at Cairns Airport on 25 December, 2024. 

The ABF allegedly discovered child abuse material on the phone, laptop and two hard drives, and referred the matter to the AFP for investigation.

After examining the man’s phone, the AFP executed a search warrant at his Cairns home on 26 December, 2024.

On 6 May, 2025, following further analysis of the devices, the AFP officers from the Northern Command Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) charged the man with one count of possessing, controlling, producing, distributing or obtaining child abuse material outside Australia, contrary to section 273.6(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth). 

The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment. 

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said law enforcement was committed to the prevention of online child abuse material including abhorrent content created or sourced outside of Australia. 

“Online child abuse material is a borderless crime, which is why this criminality remains a strong focus for the AFP and our state and Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners,” Det Supt Telfer said.

“Creating this material is a serious offence. Investigators are relentless and will pursue anyone producing, sharing or accessing child abuse material – regardless of where it comes from.” 

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.

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.