Jonathan Doig, Greens activist, charged over child abuse material
A Greens activist who tried to take on Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Federal Election allegedly received 352 images in just six months as he spoke daily with a 13-year-old Filipino girl. He has now been charged with possessing child abuse material.
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A prominent Greens activist who challenged Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the 2019 Federal Election allegedly received 352 child abuse images from a 13-year-old Filipino girl over six months as they communicated almost daily.
Police allege Jonathan Peter Doig, 57, spent $129,224 in 180 separate transactions between October 2010 and May 2020 on child abuse material, some of which was live-streamed from the Philippines.
Doig had allegedly communicated with one victim up until the day before Australian Federal Police dramatically arrested him at his Gymea home, where he lives with his family.
The former Greens candidate for the Prime Minister’s southern Sydney seat of Cook has now been charged with procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, using the internet to solicit child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
At Central Local Court, Commonwealth federal prosecutor Sandra Lo said police would allege Doig has “exhibited an active sexual proclivity toward children”.
“There is an irresistible inference that he has an ongoing sexual interest in children, and that he has a tendency to act on these interests,” Ms Lo told the court.
Doig was granted bail by Magistrate Margaret Quinn on the condition that he is completely forbidden from using the internet, loitering anywhere children under 16 are likely to be present, and from being unaccompanied with any children.
He will also have to report to police three times a week, avoid international points of departure and reside in his family home with his wife’s supervision.
Police will allege Doig began communicating with a 13-year-old Filipino girl on December 23 last year and had continued to do so almost daily until the day before his arrest.
“A review of the material exchanged between the accused at the victim reveals 352 images and videos exchanged between the parties,” Ms Lo told the court.
“An assessment by police that the conversation between them occurred daily – he received a school report where she is identified as being aged 13 accompanied by three images of her in a school uniform.”
Ms Lo said police would also say Doig had sole control of the electronic devices where the alleged child abuse material was detected.
Further examination of his devices since his arrest on Tuesday has allegedly uncovered evidence of five more underage female victims and associated child abuse material.
Doig’s barrister Greg Stanton told the court the allegations did not include the most grave forms of child abuse material.
“In terms of the objective gravity, while they are serious, within that range the offence and the material follows at the lower end of the scale,” Mr Stanton said.
“He has a profile in the community which is now at the mercy of the press – no doubt he and his family are going to suffer humiliation and constant exposure by the press.”
The NSW Greens made a brief statement confirming Doig had been suspended from the party and was forbidden from interacting with the Greens.
“The Greens deplore and condemn child sexual abuse and exploitation, and again commit to believing and supporting victims and survivors,” the statement reads.
“We acknowledge the work of state and federal investigators and appreciate the professionalism of their work on behalf of victims.”
Police dragged Doig away by his arms after the determined climate change activist participated in a “sit-in” protest at Parliament House in Canberra in 2016.
Just days before his shocking arrest Doig was stating his steadfast support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the major protest in Sydney on Saturday.
“Silence equals violence,” Doig wrote on Facebook.
“To ignore evil is to become an accomplice.”
His case returns to Downing Centre Local Court on August 4 for brief orders.