❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding charges, convictions, sentencing, and reoffending rates for possession of child abuse material in WA over the past 8 years.
AnsweredQoN 72Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to recent reports of individuals being charged and convicted for possession of child exploitation material, in particular the disturbing case of a Gosnells man who possessed child abuse material involving 18,648 child victims, including snuff images of 6 young girls, and I ask: (a) how many individuals have been charged with possession of child abuse material during each of the last 8 calendar years; (b) how many individuals have been convicted for possession of child abuse material during each of the last 8 calendar years; and (c) of those convicted during those years referenced in (b): (i) how many received a custodial sentence; (ii) what was the average term of imprisonment that has been imposed; (iii) what was the shortest term of imprisonment imposed; (iv) what was the longest term of imprisonment imposed; and (v) how many have reoffended?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 May 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General
Response time
8 days
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
a)
87
85
122
142
111
142
180
182
73
Counting rules:
Above is a count of distinct accused in each calendar year having one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged under the following legislation:
• Classification (Publications, Films & Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996 (WA) s60 (4);
• Criminal Code (WA) s220; and
• Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) s273.6(1), s273A.1, s474.22A(1), s474.24A(1).
Charges relating to accessing child abuse/exploitation material are excluded from the data.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
b)
51
62
75
96
84
70
116
142
38
Counting rules:
Above is a count of distinct accused in each calendar year being convicted of one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged under the same legislation as per answer a).
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) i.
40
43
56
70
61
37
78
97
24
Counting rules:
A count of distinct accused from answer b) where a penalty of imprisonment or detention was imposed.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) ii.
15
14
14
15
14
15
15
17
25
c) iii.
3
2
2
2
2
4
1
3
2
c) iv.
45
28
42
48
36
36
60
99
141
Counting rules:
Terms of imprisonment for answers to questions c) ii (average terms), iii (shortest terms) and iv (longest terms) are shown in months imposed for the child abuse/exploitation material charge/s in an accused case. The total effective sentence imposed on an accused on the same day for other offences is not counted.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) v.
7
12
7
9
11
2
1
0
0
Counting rules:
Answer for question c) v, are counts of distinct accused in each calendar year having one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged with an offence date greater than the conviction date counted in answer to question b).
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
a)
87
85
122
142
111
142
180
182
73
Counting rules:
Above is a count of distinct accused in each calendar year having one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged under the following legislation:
• Classification (Publications, Films & Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996 (WA) s60 (4);
• Criminal Code (WA) s220; and
• Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) s273.6(1), s273A.1, s474.22A(1), s474.24A(1).
Charges relating to accessing child abuse/exploitation material are excluded from the data.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
b)
51
62
75
96
84
70
116
142
38
Counting rules:
Above is a count of distinct accused in each calendar year being convicted of one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged under the same legislation as per answer a).
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) i.
40
43
56
70
61
37
78
97
24
Counting rules:
A count of distinct accused from answer b) where a penalty of imprisonment or detention was imposed.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) ii.
15
14
14
15
14
15
15
17
25
c) iii.
3
2
2
2
2
4
1
3
2
c) iv.
45
28
42
48
36
36
60
99
141
Counting rules:
Terms of imprisonment for answers to questions c) ii (average terms), iii (shortest terms) and iv (longest terms) are shown in months imposed for the child abuse/exploitation material charge/s in an accused case. The total effective sentence imposed on an accused on the same day for other offences is not counted.
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025*
c) v.
7
12
7
9
11
2
1
0
0
Counting rules:
Answer for question c) v, are counts of distinct accused in each calendar year having one or more possession of child abuse/exploitation material charges lodged with an offence date greater than the conviction date counted in answer to question b).
* Year to date to 30 April 2025 (as at 7 May 2025).
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