Leeser's child abuse sentencing bill lapsed without a vote
Julian Leeser MP is a Liberal member of Parliament. He wanted at least five years in jail for sending or keeping child abuse material through the post or online. He also wanted tighter rules on letting child sex offenders out early. The bill was dropped in May 2026 without a vote.
Official name: Crimes Amendment (Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Child Sexual Abuse) Bill 2025
- Six federal crimes about child abuse material sent or kept by post or online would have had a 5-year minimum jail term.
- Some 4-year minimum jail terms would have gone up to 6 years.
- Courts could only have let a child sex offender out early on a good behaviour promise in very unusual cases.
- The bill was dropped from the House's to-do list on 26 May 2026.
Who it affects
- People found guilty of federal child abuse material crimes: Judges would have had to give at least 5 years in jail for six more crimes.
- People found guilty of federal child sex crimes: Courts could only have let them out early on a good behaviour promise in very unusual cases.
- Judges: They would have had less choice about how long to jail people and when to let them out.
- Children and their families: The bill aimed at tougher punishment for people who harm children through abuse material.
Existing minimum child abuse sentences
Federal law already sets minimum jail terms for some child sex abuse crimes. A minimum jail term is the shortest time a judge is allowed to give. These minimums are in the Crimes Act 1914. That is a national law about crimes and punishment.
Julian Leeser MP brought this private bill to the House of Representatives on 27 October 2025. That is the lower house of Parliament. A private bill is one brought by an MP who is not speaking for the government.
There are no notes from the MP that explain the bill. So his reasons are not in the papers we have. This article explains what the words of the bill would have done.
Five-year minimum sentences
The Criminal Code is the main list of federal crimes. The bill would have taken six crimes from it and added them to a list in the Crimes Act. That list is in section 16AAA. It sets out child sex crimes that come with a minimum jail term.
Three of the crimes are about the post. They cover using the post for child abuse material. They also cover having or making such material to send by post. These are sections 471.19 and 471.20 of the Criminal Code.
The other three are about a phone or internet service. The law calls this a carriage service. They cover using the internet for child abuse material. They also cover having or making such material to share online. These are sections 474.22, 474.22A and 474.23.
Each of the six crimes would have come with at least 5 years in jail. Say a person is found guilty of keeping child abuse material they downloaded. The judge could not have given less than 5 years.
Some minimums would go up
Section 16AAB of the Crimes Act sets another list of minimum jail terms for child sex crimes.
Six items on that list now have a minimum of 4 years. The bill would have raised each of those to 6 years.
Limits on early release
A court that jails someone for a federal crime can make a special release order. The law calls it a recognizance release order. It lets the person out of jail at a set time.
The person must promise to behave well. Sometimes there are other rules they must follow too.
The bill said a court must not make one of these orders for a federal child sex crime unless the case is very unusual. The court would have to be sure the facts were strong enough.
The same test would have applied when a court makes a new release order to replace an old one. A note would have been added to the law to remind courts of this rule.
Planned start
The changes would have started the day after the bill became law. That happens when the Governor-General signs it. The Governor-General is the King's representative in Australia.
Dropped after time ran out
Mr Leeser brought the bill on 27 October 2025. That day he also started the debate on its main idea.
The House never voted on it. On 26 May 2026, it was dropped from the House's to-do list. This was under the House's rule number 42. That rule clears out bills from MPs outside the government that have sat too long.
The bill will not become law in this form.
Its journey through Parliament
| 27 Oct 2025 | House of Representatives: Introduced and read a first time |
| 27 Oct 2025 | House of Representatives: Second reading moved |
| 26 May 2026 | House of Representatives: Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42) |