Text as at 26 April 2026

This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

51M Exceptions applying to children

(1)A does not commit an offence against section 51B(1), 51C(1), 51D(1), 51G(1) or 51H(1) if—

(a)A is a child; and

(b)the child abuse material is an image; and

(c)the image depicts A alone.

A is 15 years old and takes a photograph of themselves. A stores the photograph on their mobile phone. The offences in 51B(1), 51C(1), 51D(1), 51G(1) or 51H(1) do not apply to A in respect of the image.

Section 51O may apply if A is an adult.

(2)A does not commit an offence against section 51B(1), 51C(1), 51D(1), 51G(1) or 51H(1) if—

(a)A is a child; and

(b)the child abuse material is an image; and

(c)A is the victim of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and the image depicts that offence.

The image depicts the child (A) being raped by another person. The offences in sections 51B(1), 51C(1), 51D(1), 51G(1) and 51H(1) do not apply to A in respect of the image.

(3)In subsections (1) and (2), a reference to an image, in relation to an offence against section 51B(1), is a reference to the image that A involves the child in producing.

References to A in this section are references to the same A referred to in sections 51B, 51C, 51D, 51G and 51H.