The Albanese Government has quietly revised a taxpayer-funded website that advised people with sexual thoughts about children not to “beat yourself up” over fantasies, following criticism that the language could minimise the seriousness of child sexual abuse.
Several weeks after the Stop It Now! Australia website’s guidance attracted widespread scrutiny, a number of its modules appear to have been removed.
One deleted section advised users to avoid sexual fantasies about children while masturbating.
“To help, try focusing your attention exclusively on the physical sensations you experience while masturbating,” the module stated.
“Don’t beat yourself up. For many people, it simply does not feel realistic to never have sexual fantasies about children. Compassion and self-acceptance can also be very helpful.
“Having a sexual interest in children can feel lonely and you may feel society doesn’t understand your situation.”
Another section, which linked to the organisation’s British sister website, questioned whether people could stop being attracted to children and suggested the issue might be comparable to gay conversion therapy.
“Some people who have a sexual attraction to children want to change this attraction,” the former module said.
Parts of a taxpayer-funded website that told people with sexual fantasies about children not to “beat yourself up” have been quietly removed by the Albanese Government
The website offers support to people concerned about sexual thoughts involving children, including those previously convicted of child sex offences
“There is some debate about how effective this change can be, and some might suggest it is akin to the historical use of such practices for altering homosexual interests.”
The website, launched in April as part of a $9.6 million government program, also revised its advice on what people should do when experiencing sexual fantasies about children. Earlier guidance encouraged them to call someone, leave the room and write down their thoughts in a journal.
The changes followed comments from a spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, who told the Daily Mail that the department was working with the service provider to review the website in light of evidence and expert advice.
On Monday, Professor Daryl Higgins, director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University, told the Daily Mail that the website was intended to provide a “humanised response” to people who recognised they needed help.
“For those who recognise that they don’t want to go down this path, we have to, as a society, provide a pathway out of that,” he said.
However, Professor Higgins said the support service could not begin and end with a single phone call.
“It has to be an integrated set of supports so that anybody who has concerning thoughts about children can get the help that they need,” he said.
“It shouldn’t start and end with a phone call. That phone call should be the linkage point to specialist services.”
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A spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the website, saying it followed a recommendation from the child sex abuse royal commission
Professor Higgins acknowledged the risks involved in operating a service such as Stop It Now! but said inaction posed a greater danger.
“I think the short answer is, yes, it does come with risks, but it’s a bigger risk not to do anything,” he said.
Opposition child protection spokesman Matt O’Sullivan accused the government of “covering their tracks” as questions mounted over who approved the material.
“Who approved this material? Who ordered its removal? And why did it take public exposure before action was taken?” Senator O’Sullivan said.
“This is just another example of the Albanese Government outsourcing responsibility to bureaucrats and external agencies, who they can shift blame to when things go wrong.
“The government cannot simply scrub material from a website and expect the controversy to disappear. When it comes to protecting children, ministers must take responsibility, not cover their tracks.”
Stop It Now! Australia began as a pilot program run by social change organisation Jesuit Social Services in September 2022 before expanding into a federally funded national scheme in April 2026.
The former Morrison Government developed and funded the First Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse in 2021.
Earlier this week, a spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the service, saying it had been established in response to recommendations from the 2017 Royal Commission.
Senator O’Sullivan questioned advice in the modules, including a suggestion to “try to avoid sexual fantasies about children when masturbating”
“Child sexual abuse in any form is an abhorrent crime, and perpetrators must face the full force of the law,” the spokesman said.
“This government is simultaneously focused on preventative measures and organisations that help stop child sexual abuse before it occurs, while also cracking down on offenders and supporting victims.”
The website has recorded more than 28,000 visits from almost 24,000 unique users.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Attorney-General for further comment.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service (1800 211 028)