91HA   Defences

(1) Innocent production, dissemination or possession
It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91H that the defendant did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that he or she produced, disseminated or possessed (as the case requires) child abuse material.

(2)  It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91H not involving the production or dissemination of child abuse material that the material concerned came into the defendant’s possession unsolicited and the defendant, as soon as he or she became aware of its nature, took reasonable steps to get rid of it.

(3) Public benefit
It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91H that the conduct engaged in by the defendant:

(a)  was of public benefit, and

(b)  did not extend beyond what was of public benefit.

(4)  Conduct is of public benefit if, and only if, the conduct is necessary for or of assistance in:

(a)  enforcing or administering a law of the State, or of another State, a Territory or the Commonwealth, or

(b)  monitoring compliance with, or investigating a contravention of, a law of the State, or of another State, a Territory or the Commonwealth, or

(c)  the administration of justice.

(5)  The question of whether a person’s conduct is of public benefit is a question of fact and the person’s motives for engaging in the conduct are irrelevant.

(6) Law enforcement officers
It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91H that:

(a)  the defendant was, at the time of the offence, a law enforcement officer acting in the course of his or her duties, and

(b)  the conduct of the defendant was reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of performing that duty.

(7) Classified material
It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91H that the material concerned was classified (whether before or after the commission of the alleged offence) under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 of the Commonwealth, other than as refused classification (RC).

(8) Approved research
It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against section 91G or 91H that the conduct engaged in by the defendant:

(a)  was necessary for or of assistance in conducting scientific, medical or educational research that has been approved by the Attorney General in writing for the purposes of this section, and

(b)  did not contravene any conditions of that approval.