Child-like sex dolls are being stopped at Australia’s border. They could be an early child protection warning

Most Australians would be shocked to learn that child-like sex dolls are manufactured, sold online and intercepted at our borders.

These dolls, which can be purchased online, are made to look like people under the age of 17 and to allow the user to simulate sexual intercourse.

Importing these products is illegal .

Possession is also a Commonwealth offence carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Available figures indicate the scale is significant, but difficult to track consistently.

The Department of Home Affairs recorded 103 detections in 2020–21, 88 in 2021–22 and 29 in 2022–23.

In 2025, the Australian Border Force reported a renewed “ disturbing rise ” in attempted imports.

As a result, we’ve formed a research team to collaborate directly with the Australian Border Force.

We’re trying to better understand how these dolls arrive in Australia, how they can be better classified at the border, and who’s buying them.

But focusing only on seizing prohibited goods risks overlooking something more important: the opportunity to detect escalating child exploitation behaviours before a child is harmed.

Early warning signals The case of Perth man Jason William Forbes shows the risks involved.

In 2024, Australian Border Force officers intercepted two bespoke dolls Forbes had ordered, specifying their size, hair and eye colour.

According to the sentencing judge, they represented girls aged about 11 or 12.

The interception prompted further investigation.