MEDIA RELEASE
16 February 2007

Punishment for Possession of Child Pornography ‘Pathetic’

Family First has labeled the sentence of 10 months imprisonment handed down to a deputy principal who admitted downloading more than 1000 images of "horrific" child pornography onto a school laptop computer as pathetic.

“This punishment equates to approximately 8 hours for each image,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First.

“Each of these images, including "horrific images of sadism and bestiality” according to the sentencing judge, involved sexual abuse of a child, some as young as three years old.”

“The sexual abuse of a child is worth far more punishment than eight hours imprisonment,” says Mr McCoskrie. “The effect on that child will last a lifetime.”

Under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act amended two years ago, the maximum prison sentence introduced for possession of child pornography is five years.

“At a time when we are being confronted with unacceptable rates of child abuse, the courts need to use the powers given to them by Parliament to send the strongest message possible that child pornography is abhorrent and totally unacceptable to the community.”

“Despite Judge Rushton acknowledging they were images of a more serious nature, the punishment handed down is an insult to the victims of this sickening crime.”

“Our children deserve far better,” says Mr McCoskrie.

ENDS

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