What is Child Pornography?

Thursday June 1, 2008

Rev. Fred Nile - Media Release

The Reverend Fred Nile, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has challenged the Art World for defending Bill Henson’s photographs of naked children.

These Art World critics are living in the 70’s when the debate was about adult pornography – what was obscene?  In the 1990’s we introduced new Child Pornography laws in NSW which were designed to remove doubt about the definitions” said Rev Fred Nile. 
“The NSW law states quote ‘Child Pornography means material that depicts or describes in a manner that would in all the circumstances cause offence to reasonable persons, a person under or apparently under the age of 16 years – in a sexual context.  Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 10 years”.

“Bill Henson deliberately chose a developing, naked female child and portrays her in a sexual context.  It was his responsibility, as with all other adult producers, photographers etc, to ensure they are not breaking these tough NSW Child Pornography laws.

“These Child Pornography laws are designed to protect children from being used to produce child pornography and to prevent the unlawful use of this material to stimulate paedophile sexual abuse of innocent children” said Reverend Fred Nile MLC. 

For Media Interviews contact:

Rev Fred Nile
(02) 9230 2478 or 0418 619 731

Research Assistant:
David Copeland
(02) 9230 2978