New South Wales passes a law under which art can no longer be used as a medium of defense for a charge of child pornography.

State Parliament has approved amendments to the Crime Act that altered the definition of offensive material from child pornography to child abuse.

Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos posts that the new laws will make prosecutions simple.

Instead of relying on the defense of artistic purpose, as has initially been witnessed, artists who create images of naked children will now have to shell out money for a commonwealth classification in order to ensure against prosecution.

"The laws make it clear that if a court determines, that material is child abuse material, the fact that it is art can no longer be used as a defense to a charge of child pornography," Mr. Hatzistergos quoted.

Mr. Hatzistergos posted that the new legislation, granted approval Tuesday, will assist authorities to distinguish child pornography from art in a much easier manner thereby protecting victims and making it easier for police to prosecute cases.

In 2008, NSW detectives conducted a raid in the inner-Sydney art gallery, seizing Mr. Henson's images of naked 12 and 13-year-old girls, saying they speculated to lay charges.