Rafy
Retired
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- Sep 30, 2004
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- HSC
- 2005
- Uni Grad
- 2008
Overhaul of art laws to protect against child exploitation
LAWS regulating child nudity and art will be overhauled in New South Wales [in] the wake of the Bill Henson controversy.
Photographers and film-makers will no longer be able to rely on a legal defence of "artistic purpose" under one of the biggest shake-ups of NSW child-protection laws.
In a move likely to trigger intense debate, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the State Government has given in-principle support to the proposal, which is among a raft of amendments put forward by the NSW Sentencing Council.
A package of new legislation will be introduced into State Parliament this year.
Included will be a new offence of voyeurism, to replace outdated "peeping and prying" laws, and tougher laws targeting teachers, scout masters and other adults in a position of authority over children.
There will also be a new offence to address the practice of meeting a child after "grooming" them with indecent material for sexual purposes. It will carry a maximum sentence of 10 years' jail.
The move to strike out the artistic purpose defence follows intense community debate over an exhibition by artist Bill Henson in May.
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