A well-known ACT disability advocate has handed himself in to police for possessing child abuse material for decades and told a court he "looked around and said 'I am disgusted by this'".
"I'm ashamed of what I did", Craig James Wallace, 57, told the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 7.
The well-known ACT disability campaigner reported himself to police on Monday and is yet to enter a plea to one count of possessing child exploitation material.
Police searched his Fisher home overnight and seized electronic devices and a significant amount of printed child exploitation material.
Speaking to the court on Tuesday, Wallace said: "There was no reason for me to turn myself in suddenly like that."
He stated he had been undergoing therapy for anxiety and wanted to turn his life around.
"I genuinely want to turn it around. I could've kept going like I did, but I genuinely want to turn it around."
A Legal Aid duty lawyer applied for Wallace to be granted bail, arguing he was unable to leave the ACT or relocate due to a disability.
"Police have already taken Mr Wallace's devices, they have already found physical photos and materials," the lawyer said.
"Mr Wallace has essentially directed them where to find it."
The court heard the 57-year-old, who has no criminal history, had recently quit his job and was planning to move into a retirement village in the near future.
Wallace had advocated for disability rights for many years and was formerly president of People with Disability and head of policy with Advocacy for Inclusion.
A prosecutor opposed bail due to concerns the man was planning take his own life.
They said Wallace had transferred his finances, quit his job and there had been a recommendation by police that he be evaluated in a mental health hospital.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston granted the man bail and said he had been released from the Canberra Hospital, where staff described his "mood improving" once he disclosed the crime to police.
Bail conditions include for the man not to be alone with anyone under the age of 18, and to provide police with access to his internet devices.
Wallace is set to return to court in August.
Police have urged anyone with information regarding the accessing or creation of child abuse material to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.
