By SHARON LABI
For parents, the list of those arrested in Australia's biggest child pornography bust makes sobering reading.
Teachers, doctors, health workers, police officers and the owner of three Melbourne childcare centres - the very people adults entrust their children to.
After five months of joint investigations with the FBI, Australian authorities
arrested more than 150 people across the country on 2000 charges.
More than 380 computers were seized containing two million pornographic images involving children, including some showing a 2-year-old in a bondage scene.
So far 55 people have been arrested in Queensland, 42 in New South Wales, 21 in Western Australia, nine in the Northern Territory and seven in South Australia.
Further arrests were made in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
The sting was already entering its final stages when Australia passed new laws cracking down on internet child pornography in August.
The warning bells had been sounding for some time.
Three years ago a man was arrested in Victoria and computers seized in South Australia after an international internet crackdown on child sex offenders.
Australia was one of 20 countries involved in the operation launched at the time by Britain's National Crime Squad.
A few months ago, anti-child abuse groups alleged a highly organised paedophile ring involving Victorian police and a former senior politician had been operating in the state since the 1970s.
Police were among those arrested this week along with the owner of three Melbourne childcare centres.
Parents with children at the centres were being called by the Department of Human Services to inform them of the arrest.
The issue has brought down several public figures, most notably former governor-general Peter Hollingworth, who conceded he made mistakes handling child sex abuse allegations while Anglican archbishop of Brisbane.
However, while details of sex abuse within the church have been well documented and publicised, child pornography has received less attention.
It is difficult to catch predators in the act and the porn ring operating in Australia has flourished with links to organised crime in Russia and eastern Europe.
Those accused of being involved are all intelligent people in positions of power who had disguised their actions well.
"The network is extensive and very sophisticated," said Justice Minister Chris Ellison.
"You are dealing with the sort of criminal here who is normally intelligent and goes to great lengths to cover their tracks."
Police swoop
Australian authorities have arrested more than 150 people including:
Two school teachers.
One serving police officer.
The owner of three childcare centres.
- AAP
By SHARON LABI
For parents, the list of those arrested in Australia's biggest child pornography bust makes sobering reading.
Teachers, doctors, health workers, police officers and the owner of three Melbourne childcare centres - the very people adults entrust their children to.
After five months of joint investigations with the FBI, Australian authorities
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