The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are to receive nearly $40 million in new funding as part of the first phase of a new National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said the Royal Commission, which recommended development of the National Strategy, revealed the shocking extent of child sexual abuse in this country.
”As part of the National Strategy we are boosting AFP efforts, enhancing its ability to fight child sexual abuse, particularly online,” Mr Morrison said.
Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews said the AFP had been at the forefront of tackling child sexual abuse.
“Whether it’s been setting up the AFP-led Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, through to working closely with the eSafety Commissioner, the Government has worked hard to ensure the AFP has the tools it needs to combat child sexual abuse online or in the real world every step of the way,” Mrs Andrews said.
“Charges relating to child sexual abuse across the country have increased from 372 in 2018-19, to 2,753 in 2020-21.”
She said this was evidence of law enforcement efforts working “but any sexual crime against a child is one too many, and we must make sure we bring these numbers down in the long term”.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ben Morton said the National Strategy would complement and align with other national policy frameworks, such as the current and future National Plans to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, and Closing the Gap.
Mr Morton said the Government was working with States and Territories, as well as non-Government stakeholders, to finalise the National Strategy for release in September.
Further information can be accessed on the National Office for Child Safety website at this PS News link.
