Queensland's harsh anti-paedophile laws will become even tougher after Cabinet decided today (Monday) to double the maximum penalties for procuring children for pornography and for producing pornography to 10 years' jail.

Kens Comment: When are you going to do something about the child, Human Rights and Natural Justice abusers in the 'new' Safety of Children Deparment? The TV offer still stands, Beattie, would you and your mates like to front me on the little screen?

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Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
prem...@cabinet.qld.gov.au
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04/10/04

"We must do everything we can to deter people from this perversion and from creating a market for this evil trade," said Premier Peter Beattie.

"And we will more than double the maximum penalty for possessing child pornography from two years to five years.

"Child pornography involves stealing a child's innocence, something which can never be reclaimed, and often crippling their personalities for ever.

"People who consume child pornography feed demand for child pornography and prop up this sick trade in children's misery.

"We must do everything we can to deter paedophiles from committing these devastating crimes.

"It is also important to note that offences involving the production, sale and possession of child pornography come under three Acts - the Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995, the Classification of Films Act 1991 and the Classification of Publications Act 1991.

"Because of the gravity of these offences and the fact that sentences make it clear that these are crimes and not simple offences, Cabinet has decided to include them in the Criminal Code.

"The Queensland Government will also encourage other Australian governments to formulate uniform national laws against internet pornography.

"Internet criminals transcend borders, and we need to have uniform laws across the nation so that 'net paedophiles do not shop around for a more lenient jurisdiction.

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech, who has had responsibility for the laws until now, said: "I believe that all decent Queenslanders will agree that these offences should be moved to the Criminal Code."

Mr Beattie added: "A radical overhaul of the laws last year made it an offence to use the internet to procure a child for sex or expose a child to pornographic images.

"We made the maximum penalties for indecent treatment the harshest in the nation - 20 years for indecently treating a child under 12 years and 14 years for indecently treating a child under 16.

"And when judges sentence child rapists and paedophiles, they do not need to follow the general principle that prison is a 'last resort'," Mr Beattie said.

Media contact: Premier's office 3224 4500