The Department of Home Affairs is to establish a new national Centre to counter child exploitation and abuse.
Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton (pictured) said the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) would drive a national effort to combat a global epidemic of child abuse and create a hub of expertise and specialist skills needed to disrupt, prevent and investigate exploitation.
“The violent and repulsive abuse of children is becoming more prevalent and the organised nature of offending is also becoming more complex,” Mr Dutton said.
He said a consolidated and strategic approach was required to combat it and the new ACCCE would have a capability not currently held by any single Federal or State Agency.
“In the digital era, it has never been easier for perpetrators to contact children and share images of abuse and torture through global networks,” Mr Dutton said.
“The level of such material is increasing in volume and the nature of it is becoming more violent and extreme.”
He said that by bringing together the expertise of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC, the Office of the Cyber Coordinator, the Australian Border Force, Australian Institute of Criminology and other areas of his Department law enforcement officials estimated the ACCCE would identify and remove from harm more than 200 child victims each year.
He said it would also link Australia more closely with international law enforcement and agencies.
Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, Angus Taylor said the ACCCE would strengthen the ability of Australia’s law enforcement agencies to tackle what are revolting crimes.
“It sends a clear message to the perpetrators of these crimes that we will track them down,” Mr Taylor said.
He said establishment of the new Centre would be a phased operation.
“The 2018-19 Budget allocation will enable the AFP to expand the staff of its existing Child Protection Operations by around 30 per cent over the next financial year and then a further 30 per cent the following year,” the Minister said.
“It will be Brisbane-based because of Brisbane’s proximity to the Asia-Pacific and its status as a cyber-hub.”
