A South Australian politician is trying to change a law in her state that would send people to jail for up to 10 years if they're caught with a child-like sex doll.
SA Best's Connie Bonaros has proposed the change in legislation to up the ante when it comes to punishments in this area.
Ms Bonaros says it's disgusting that these dolls are able to be purchased and shipped to Australia, fearing it only encourages potential pedophiles to seek out living victims.
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She says: "The idea that people can be found in possession of sex dolls that not only look like young children, children as young as five...[is] not only repugnant but completely inappropriate and at odds with community standards.
"Child-like sex 'dolls' - and I use that word loosely - are an emerging and increasing form of child exploitation material that must clearly be criminalised.
"Experts warn that these kinds of perverse, sickening dolls can normalise abusive behaviour towards children, encourage the sexualisation of children and increase the likelihood that a pedophile will engage in sexual activity with or towards children."
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It appears the general consensus in the academic community is that these dolls do pose a risk if they're allowed in the community.
"I've spoken to adults who were abused as children, and they don't support the use of [child-sexbots]," Dr. Kathleen Richardson tells NBC, a professor of ethics and culture of robots at De Montfort University in Leicester.
"They say that pedophiles who offend are so cut off from their own humanity that giving them a machine wouldn't address the underlying problem."
But there are some researchers who are keen to see whether they could help pedophiles deal with their urges.
The ABC cites data from the Department of Home Affairs, which shows there were more than 130 child sex dolls detected by authorities from mid-2013 to mid-2018.
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Authorities are able to seize them under current legislation, but there's no wording about importing, selling, making or possessing them.
The federal government has signalled it hopes to also change legislation to stop these dolls from being circulated and used in Australia, however the road to that being completed isn't properly mapped out yet.
In the meantime, Ms Bonaros is hoping her private member's bill will encourage other states and territories to jump on the bandwagon and stop them.
"Anything at all that might lead to children being less safe and possibly preyed upon is something we can't tolerate," she said.
Featured Image Credit: PA