A man accused of grooming children for sexual activity overseas has denied more than 100 charges, with a magistrate saying a theoretical 1500-year jail term was "oppressive".
The alleged sex offender, Ernest James Maclay, chewed his nails when he faced a hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The 75-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 125 charges related to allegedly encouraging child sexual abuse outside Australia.