Australian author Craig Silvey, best known for his novel Jasper Jones, has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material. The 43-year-old faced Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he entered his pleas.
Charges and Plea
Silvey was initially charged in January after detectives from Western Australia Police’s child abuse squad raided his Fremantle home. He was allegedly caught communicating online with child exploitation offenders, and his electronic devices were seized. The father of three later faced additional charges, including allegations that he produced child exploitation material between February and June 2022, and possessed further material on 12 January this year. However, those two charges have now been discontinued. Silvey admitted the remaining counts of possessing and distributing child exploitation material linked to offences in January.
Literary Career
Silvey is widely celebrated for his 2009 coming-of-age novel Jasper Jones, which is considered a modern Australian classic and has been adapted into a feature film and several stage productions. He also authored Rhubarb, Honeybee (winner of the 2021 Australian Indie Book Award), and the children’s novel Runt, which was also made into a film. Following the original charges, publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press stopped promoting his books, and most of his titles were removed from reading lists across the country.
Silvey’s bail was continued, and he is next due to appear in the District Court on 3 July for sentencing.
