Consultation on reforms to Commonwealth child sex-related offences

The Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, invites public comment on proposed reforms to Commonwealth child sex-related offences.  The proposed reforms would ensure comprehensive coverage of offences in areas of Commonwealth responsibility.

The reforms, set out in detail in the consultation paper, would:

• strengthen the existing child sex tourism offence regime
• enhance the coverage of offences for using a carriage service for sexual activity with a child or for child pornography or abuse material
• introduce new offences for dealing in child pornography and child abuse material overseas
• introduce new offences for using a postal service for child sex-related activity
• introduce a new scheme to provide for forfeiture of child pornography and child abuse material and items containing such material, and
• make minor amendments to ensure existing law enforcement powers are available to combat Commonwealth child sex-related offences.

Submissions

Public comment is welcome on the proposed amendments outlined in the consultation paper.

If you would like to make a submission, please forward your submission no later than Friday 23 October 2009 to Criminal.Law@ag.gov.au.  Please contact Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Branch at this email address if you are experiencing difficulty accessing the documents.

Submissions may also be submitted in hard copy, addressed to:

Assistant Secretary
Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON  ACT  2600

All submissions and the names of persons or organisations who make a submission will be treated as public, and may be published on the Department’s website or provided to third parties who request non-confidential submissions, unless the author clearly indicates to the contrary.  A request made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for access to a submission marked confidential will be determined in accordance with that Act.