AFP, states jointly target web child abuse

Authorities will employ the same strategy used to combat criminal gangs and terrorists to target online child sex abuse.

Australian Federal Police officers will work alongside state authorities to address a growing problem that includes underage sex shows broadcast via the web.

Victoria is the first state to sign on to the new strategy.

A Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) memorandum of understanding was signed by AFP deputy commissioner Michael Phelan, and Victoria Police deputy commissioner Graham Ashton, on Friday.

Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said similar agreements were expected with all other state and territories in the "not too distant future".

"By working together, policing agencies will more effectively protect our children and combat what is a horrendous crime type," Mr Keenan told reporters in Geelong.

"Co-locating officers together has worked extremely well in battling gangs, it certainly has worked very well and historically in battling terrorism and we want to bring that same focus to child exploitation.

"The nature of the crime type now is global, particularly in the online environment."

AFP officers will work within Victoria Police's Taskforce Astraea.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said child exploitation was a growing problem all around the world.

It follows two Victorian cases this year in which men were jailed for 11 years after paying for live internet from developing countries showing young children being abused.