Following the news that a Brisbane man took secret images and videos of children to post to his Website, Queensland's government is preparing to ban photographing children without parental consent.
Attorney General Rod Welford confirmed the plan January 31, which also may involve making it illegal to send "inoffensive" images of children to sites linked in any way to child pornographers, according to Australian press reports.
This move follows the discovery of Paul Michael Bartram's Website, where Bartram posted photos taken in parks and playgrounds without the knowledge of the children in question or their parents. The site was found during a newspaper's investigation into an international pedophilia ring, but Bartram – who remains under police investigation – has not yet been hit with any criminal charges and denies being linked to child porn in any way.
"There were several issues that came out of the articles in The Courier-Mail last week as to whether our existing laws need to be expanded to look at situations where the photographs of a child are, of themselves, not offensive," Welford told the newspaper. "I think the public might want further controls on so-called inoffensive photographs that are being taken for improper or offensive purposes. And that means if the pictures are put on a Website that is explicitly linked to sexually explicitly or child pornography Websites."
The issue is yet another in a seemingly increasing number of abusive practices engaged in by cell phone users who are buying camera-fitted cell phones at a rising clip in recent months. Australian state and federal attorneys general are said to be planning a conference in March to address such issues.
