Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (09:46) 

I wish to make a short statement on the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement's report entitled Report on committee visit to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. Last month I joined my colleagues, committee chair Senator Helen Polley, deputy chair the member for Wide Bay, the member for Boothby and Senator David Shoebridge when we visited the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation in Brisbane.
The centre is a world-class collaborative hub where law enforcement, both public and private sectors, and civil society are brought together. By having all these different sections of society in one place, the centre can co-ordinate national projects that deter, disrupt and prevent child exploitation, with a specific focus on countering online child sexual exploitation. We met and spoke directly to staff from several work areas in the centre. We heard firsthand moving examples of how the centre has been directly involved in interventions where children have been rescued from abuse. We learnt about the challenges and opportunities officers face when countering these terrible crimes.

I would like to commend the specialised psychological support that is made available to officers that work in the centre. It was clear to us that supporting staff wellbeing is very important at the centre. During our visit we received a tour of the building and learnt how it is specifically designed to support the wellbeing of the staff there.

We applaud the extremely important and valuable work that is being done at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. We were highly impressed with the dedication of the officers who work there. It was not lost on us that these officers work in a highly confronting role. Officers can be required to review horrendous child abuse material to identify victims or investigate offenders. Our visit to the centre motivates the committee to continue to draw attention to our November 2023 report into law enforcement capabilities in relation to child exploitation. To fight these terrible crimes, which harm children both here at home in Australia and overseas, it is vital that law enforcement has the capabilities it needs in order to counter child exploitation.

The officers at the centre perform difficult tasks in service to our community to help protect children. We left the centre with a great sense of respect and admiration for these officers. I would like to thank the secretariat of the committee for arranging a visit for us. I would also like to extend our thanks to law enforcement officers around the nation who work on countering child exploitation, whether that be at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation or elsewhere. Thank you for the work you do.