One of the major findings of the 1986 Meese Commission in Australia was that the greatest bulk of child pornography is produced in a 'cottage industry' fashion rather than as a major commercial industry. An inquiry into 'Organised Paedophile Activity in Australia' found that child pornography is not, by and large, a commercial endeavour but that there is considerable swapping and sharing of material among paedophiles in Australia and between Australia and overseas.

A considerable amount of child pornography is being produced by sex tourists, mainly from visits in Asia. Some of that material has now been replaced by material being produced in Eastern Europe. Nevertheless there are numerous cases both in Australia and overseas where child pornography is produced and distributed for commercial gain.

According to the Australian Customs Service recent intelligence assessments into paedophiles networks in Europe identified more than 50 organisations and 60 individuals involved in structured paedophile activity and the production of pornography. A number of people identified in the assessment are known to have visited Australia or have supplied child pornography to individuals in Australia.