Man charged with accessing child abuse material when he left hotel quarantine faces court

A Queensland man has faced court after being charged with accessing child abuse material when he left hotel quarantine.

Australian Federal Police arrested the 55-year-old last month after he returned to Australia from the Philippines.

The AFP said their investigations began in 2012, after a report from Luxembourg Police alleged a person, suspected to be in Queensland, was accessing child abuse material from a web hosting service.

Investigators executed a search warrant at the man's home in Murrumba Downs in June 2012 and the man was subsequently issued with a summons to appear in court, however, he had already left Australia to live in the Philippines.

On 7 November the man returned to Australia and entered mandatory COVID-19 quarantine and was charged following his release.

AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the AFP will not stop pursuing those accessing child abuse material in our community.

"We are working tirelessly to hunt down offenders and ensure they are brought before the court," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.

"Accessing child sexual abuse material online perpetuates a cycle of child abuse, it makes that person complicit in the physical and emotional harm of a child."

The potential maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.