E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that offences involving the possession, viewing, and intentional searching for child abuse material continue to cause serious and ongoing harm to children, yet community concern exists that current sentencing outcomes do not always reflect the seriousness of these offences or act as an effective deterrent.

The increasing accessibility of such material through mobile phones and online platforms has made these offences easier to commit and harder to detect, raising concerns that existing sentencing frameworks may not adequately account for deliberate and repeated behaviour.

Your petitioners believe that individuals who intentionally search for, access, and retain child abuse material contribute to demand and therefore to the continued exploitation of children.

Your petitioners note community concern regarding recent cases where significant quantities of child abuse material have resulted in comparatively short custodial sentences, raising questions about whether existing penalties are sufficient.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

• review current sentencing laws and guidelines relating to the possession, viewing, and intentional searching of child abuse material in Queensland;
• consider stronger penalties and sentencing provisions where offending involves large quantities, highly graphic material, or deliberate and repeated searching or storage on personal devices; and
• ensure sentencing outcomes better reflect the seriousness of these offences, provide stronger deterrence, and align with community expectations regarding child protection.