Acclaimed Australian author arrested on child exploitation material charges
Updated ,first published
Well-known Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child abuse material.
The 43-year-old Fremantle-based author was arrested at his home on Monday after allegedly “actively interacting” with other child abuse offenders online.
“He was immediately arrested and his electronic devices were seized,” a WA Police spokesman said.
Silvey is best known for his 2009 novel jasper jonesHe was charged with distributing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
He appeared in Fremantle Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday; where state prosecutors alleged that over several days in January, Silvey participated in online conversations in which he expressed a sexual interest in children and distributed child abuse materials.
He also allegedly refused to give police a password to access his mobile phone, laptop and other devices. He did not enter a plea and will return to court in February.
The judge described the charges as “very serious”.
Silvey was released on bail on $100,000 surety on the condition that he report to the local police station three times a week, but he defaulted on bail and was set to spend the night in jail on Tuesday.
He is also prohibited from doing any work with children, including school visits, and is not allowed to be around children, including his own, unsupervised. He was also banned from accessing the internet.
Following the accusations, Western Australian Education Minister Sabine Winton ordered schools to remove the author’s books from their curriculum.
“There are over 100 texts that students can study in 11th and/or 12th grade literature,” he said.
“Jasper Jones And Rhubarb Two of these texts by Craig Silvey jasper jones It is also one of 40 recommended texts to study in 11th and 12th grade ATAR and General English Courses.
“I have asked the Department of Education to ensure that schools stop using Craig Silvey’s texts for the 2026 school year while the allegations are investigated.”
Silvey has been writing for over 20 years. jasper jones It sells approximately 1 million copies worldwide.
His novel dated 2022 Runt It garnered numerous awards and was adapted into a feature film in 2024.
He has three young children with his partner.
with Amanda Sabatino
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