Howard pledges anti-porn summit

By GREG ANSLEY

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard yesterday promised a national summit on child pornography as more arrests were made in the Australia-wide blitz on internet perversion that has already seen more than 200 men charged.

Howard's pledge to summon the state premiers for a meeting to toughen laws against child pornography if he is re-elected on Saturday came as several states announced hefty increases in punishment, and a primary school teacher was added to the list of suspects rounded up in Operation Auxin.

Two Sydney-based naval officers were also arrested separately after child pornography was found by their commander.

Police have also announced new measures to prevent suspects from killing themselves after four men caught in the nationwide raids that rocked Australia last week committed suicide.

And there were angry demands for explanations following reports that some suspects arrested during Operation Auxin had previously been charged with offences relating to child pornography, and that relatively few of those convicted were sent to prison.

In all, as many as 700 men could ultimately face court as a result of the computers, software and pornographic images seized by police.

Yesterday a Catholic primary school teacher in Melbourne who had passed police screening three years ago was suspended on full pay following his arrest.

Others who have been caught up in the investigation include police, soldiers and public servants.

The 33-year-old pastor of a Sydney church is alleged to have filmed young children from a camera hidden in their changing rooms.

The vicar of a Melbourne Anglican church was also suspended after being arrested, with notice of the action read to parishioners from the pulpit on Sunday.

"It's going to take myself and the congregation some time for healing and to reflect," St Philips Church warden Neil McIlwraith told AAP.

"There was a lot of disbelief in the congregation and a sense probably they had been betrayed."

Yesterday Northern Territory Attorney-General Peter Toyne announced new penalties for possession of child pornography, increasing the maximum sentence from two years' jail to 10.

Procuring children for pornography brings a new maximum sentence of 14 years.

Toyne also announced a dramatic change in the way offenders will face trial, following the failure of a trial six months ago when police were not able to satisfactorily link pornography to the accused man.

"We believe the best way to fix the problem is to place the onus of proof on the alleged offender rather than having the burden placed on the prosecution to get that connection between the incriminating evidence and the alleged offender."

New South Wales will also increase its penalties, lifting the maximum jail term from two to five years.

"These are heinous crimes and clearly we must crack down on these offenders who are now able to use the internet, which knows no borders," State Attorney-General Bob Debus said.

Western Australia, which already has a five-year maximum term for child pornography, will consider increasing it further, and similar reviews have been announced by Queensland and Tasmania.

Meanwhile, Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland told ABC radio that new measures may be needed to prevent suspects killing themselves.

"We need to somehow identify those people who are at some risk of self-harm and find a way of referring them on to appropriate support or treatment."