It's art, not porn, says nude child model Olympia Nelson

THE father of the naked girl depicted on the cover of Art Monthly magazine has written of the "diabolically sexual" potential in child images.

Robert Nelson, art critic with The Age, has responded angrily to criticism of the nude pictures of his six-year-old daughter Olympia in the magazine's most recent issue, which is being investigated by the Australian Classification Board and may be pulled from the shelves.

But, as revealed by Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt in his blog this morning, Mr Nelson has previously written of the specific sexuality of such pictures, arguing that "the sensuality of children is integral to parental fondness".

THE decision by Art Monthly Australia to put the photograph of a nude six-year-old girl on the cover of its July magazine is barefaced abuse of an innocent child. It is overt political exploitation of a naked child by a group of adults done solely for their own political gratification.

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson summed it up neatly when he said the editor, Maurice O'Riordan, was sending a "two-fingered salute to the rest of society".

Nothing artistic about their offensive gesture. It's politics, pure and simple. And that's why it's distasteful and deserves censure.

Not censorship, you understand. This is not pornography of the kind that should attract the wallopers. Tell the child abuse lobbyists who fulminate about such imagery as feeding pedophilia to settle down.

THE young girl whose naked photo appeared on the cover of an arts magazine has defended the picture, saying she is proud of it.

Art Monthly Australia magazine sparked fresh outrage over naked images of children by publishing an image of a six-year-old Olympia Nelson - who is now aged 11 - on its July cover and two shots inside.

The magazine's editors said the images were chosen as a protest against the recent furore over similar pictures by artist Bill Henson.

Olympia Nelson says she is "really offended" by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's criticisms of the photo.

The 2003 image of six-year-old Olympia Nelson, taken by her mother Polixeni Papapetrou, has been published by Art Monthly Australia magazine in protest against the recent furore over Bill Henson's photographs of a naked 13-year-old girl.

Olympia, now aged 11, does not believe the photograph of her amounts to abuse and is upset with Mr Rudd, who said yesterday he "can't stand" the shot.

A TERRITORY editor has come under fire for publishing a photo of a naked six-year-old girl on the cover of a taxpayer-funded national magazine.

The July edition of Art Monthly Australia included several provocative photos of children posing naked in adult jewellery as well as naked teen girls.

The magazine's editor, Territorian Maurice O'Riordan, said he published the photo to protest against the recent furore over photos of children by renowned artist Bill Henson.