Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material following his arrest at his Fremantle home in January. After initial court appearances where he did not enter a plea, Mr. Silvey was granted bail with conditions that were later adjusted by a Perth court. The charges have led to his books being withdrawn from school curriculums across multiple states, the pausing of promotional activities by publishers, and the indefinite halt of stage adaptations.
Charges and Arrest
Craig Silvey, 43, was arrested on Monday, January 12, after police executed a search warrant at his Fremantle residence. Electronic devices were seized during the search. He has been charged with one count of distribution of child exploitation material and one count of possession of child exploitation material.
Court documents and police prosecutors allege that Mr. Silvey engaged with other individuals involved in child exploitation online, using the alias 'Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy' on adult websites. Allegations include expressing sexual interest in children, providing images, and that some material was found in his home office. Mr. Silvey reportedly declined to provide access to his electronic devices, leading to court orders being sought.
Court Proceedings and Bail
Mr. Silvey appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 13, and did not enter a plea. Magistrate Thomas Hall granted him bail, noting that imprisonment is a likely outcome should he be convicted.
Magistrate Thomas Hall granted Craig Silvey bail, noting that imprisonment is a likely outcome should he be convicted.
Initial bail conditions included:
- A $100,000 surety and a $100,000 personal undertaking.
- Prohibition from leaving Western Australia.
- Restriction from engaging in any work involving children.
- Internet access limited to legal advice, banking, and medical purposes.
- No unsupervised contact with minors.
The police prosecutor opposed bail, citing Mr. Silvey's alleged non-cooperation and concerns he was a "flight risk." His defence lawyer stated Mr. Silvey did not possess a passport and could reside at an alternate address. Initially, Mr. Silvey did not meet the surety condition and remained in custody following his first appearance. He was subsequently released on the $100,000 surety.
In a later appearance, Mr. Silvey's lawyer, Natalia Tasic, sought modifications to his bail conditions, citing significant media attention outside his residence. Magistrate Hall approved certain adjustments:
- His requirement to report to police was reduced from three times to twice weekly.
- Internet usage restrictions were relaxed, allowing Mr. Silvey to access social media to disable applications and delete comments, effectively "sanitizing" his profile.
- He is now permitted to possess an electronic device, such as a phone, provided he does not download or use encrypted applications, with police retaining the ability to monitor compliance.
Mr. Silvey was scheduled to return to court on February 10, and his next appearance in Fremantle Magistrates Court is set for March 16.
Industry and Educational Responses
The charges have prompted significant responses across the literary and education sectors:
Education Departments
- Western Australia's Department of Education announced it would remove Mr. Silvey's books, including Jasper Jones and Rhubarb, from the state curriculum for the 2026 school year. WA Education Minister Sabine Winton cited the serious nature of the allegations.
- The New South Wales education department stated it would cease using his texts and remove them from school collections.
- In Victoria, teaching resources for Runt have been removed from circulation and his texts will not feature in the 2026 Premier’s Reading Challenge.
- The Queensland Department of Education, while not having his books on its prescribed text list for 2026, recommended state schools remove any copies.
- The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority indicated that text selection for teaching programs is determined by state and territory education authorities.
- The School Curriculum and Standards Authority confirmed Year 12 students would not be penalized for referring to his texts in the 2026 ATAR Literature course examination.
Publishers
- Allen & Unwin, publisher of Runt, paused promotional activities for his work and stated a new Runt book, Annie and Runt, due for release in November, would be put on hold. The publisher acknowledged the gravity of the charges while affirming Mr. Silvey's entitlement to procedural fairness and the presumption of innocence.
- Fremantle Press, publisher of Rhubarb, also ceased promoting his books during the ongoing court process, releasing a similar statement.
Retailers
- Several Australian book retailers, including Collins Booksellers, Dymocks, Gleebooks, QBD, and Readings, removed Mr. Silvey’s books from their online stores or listed them as temporarily out of stock. Dymocks Books CEO David Allen confirmed the decision to remove all of Mr. Silvey's titles.
Theatre and Adaptations
- Sydney-based theatre company Belvoir announced it would "indefinitely pause" sales, development, and promotion of its stage adaptation of Mr. Silvey's children's book, Runt. The production was scheduled to open in August. The company acknowledged the matter as "deeply distressing" and affirmed its stance with survivors of child abuse, noting Mr. Silvey was not directly involved in the adaptation.
Awards
- The City of Subiaco announced that Mr. Silvey would have no affiliation with its 2026 Young Writers Award. Mr. Silvey had been a patron for the past three years.
Community Impact
- In York, Western Australia, which served as the backdrop for the film Runt, the local council removed some promotional materials for the movie. Shire President Chris Gibbs encouraged the community to maintain pride in their contributions to the film, while acknowledging the seriousness of the charges and a commitment to child safety.
Author Background
Mr. Silvey is widely known for his novels, including Jasper Jones (2009), Runt, Rhubarb, and Honeybee. Jasper Jones has sold over 500,000 copies, has been used as a text in schools, received an Australian Book Industry Award, and was adapted into a film in 2017 and various stage productions. His most recent novel, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, was published in September, with another installment in the Runt series scheduled for November. His works often feature teenage protagonists and explore themes such as racism, sexual identity, and abuse.
In 2020, Mr. Silvey was fined $10,000 for failing to file tax returns, which he attributed to relying on his brother's tax advice.
Brother's Conviction
Craig Silvey's brother, Bret Silvey, 45, a former cricketer, was jailed in May for masterminding a $71 million fraud scheme against investors Ivan and Randal Humich. Bret Silvey, a stock market trader since 2011, used deceptive practices, including impersonating solicitors and falsifying bank guarantees, in a scheme described as "extremely sophisticated and persistent" by WA District Court Judge Nicholas Egan. The Humich family recovered $63 million through a civil suit and frozen assets. Bret Silvey was sentenced to a maximum of 12 years in Casuarina Prison and will be eligible for parole in 2035. His lawyer stated the funds were used to cover loans rather than support a lavish lifestyle.