In the wake of child exploitation charges, all works by children’s author Craig Silvey have been permanently removed from Western Australian public schools.
Silvey, aged 43, admitted to possessing and distributing child exploitation material during a hearing at Fremantle Magistrates Court. Following his guilty plea, the Western Australian Department of Education swiftly transitioned a temporary ban on his books into a permanent removal from the state’s public school libraries.
Education Minister Sabine Winton emphasized the department’s firm stance, stating, “Our school system cannot harbor works by an individual guilty of such grave offenses.”
After Silvey’s admission, Winton confirmed that his books would be permanently excluded from educational materials. “Such predatory actions against children are intolerable and must not be associated with student resources,” she declared.
Winton also mentioned that the department is collaborating with schools to adjust curriculums and lesson plans accordingly. They are ensuring that Year 12 students who had previously engaged with Silvey’s works for their final exams will not face any academic setbacks.
Winton added the department was working with schools to help adjust curriculums and lesson plans, as well as making sure Year 12 students who had already studied them and were working towards using them in their final exams would not be penalised.
Detectives from Western Australian Police’s Child Abuse Squad raided Silvey’s Fremantle home, earlier this year, allegedly catching him communicating online with child exploitation offenders and seizing his electronic devices.
The father of three was later hit with extra charges, including allegations he produced child exploitation material between February and June 2022, and possessed further material on January 12 this year.
The popular author is best known for his 2009 comingâofâage novel Jasper Jones, which is considered a modern Australian classic and has been adapted into a feature film and several stage productions.
He has also been widely recognised for other books, including Rhubarb, Honeybee, which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021, and the children’s novel Runt, which was also made into a film.
Publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press, which released Rhubarb, stopped promoting his books after the original charges were laid 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 July 3 for sentencing.
Support is available from the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
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