Child sexual abuse is a problem of considerable proportion in the
USA and Europe (Finkelhor, 1994). However, there are very little data
available on child sexual abuse in Australia apart from the first
ground-breaking study by Goldman and Goldman (1988a) undertaken in
Victoria. No Australian National or State statistics are
available. Apart from anecdotal evidence from fragmented sources, the
prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse in Queensland have not
been researched. Queensland is considered one of the most politically
and socially conservative states in Australia, has a hotter climate,
and is less developed than other Australian states. Just as the USA
has its Deep South. Queensland is similarly referred to as the "Deep
North."