The Office of Film and Literature Classification is part of the Attorney-General’s Department which provides policy and day to day administrative support for the Classification Board, which classified films, video games and publications in Australia, and the Classification Review Board, which can review original classification decisions when a valid application has been made.
The Office does not classify TV programs or films for TV. This is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority which regulates
broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications, and has a role in regulating
The Classification Board and the Classification Review Board were established by the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth). This Act also contains the National Classification Code[1].
Though the Office of Film and Literature Classification has taken 'censorship' out of its title it is able to censor media by refusing classification and making the media illegal for hire, exhibition and importation to Australia. This has attracted particular controversy in the case of computer and video games as no R18+ rating exists for them. Games that have been refused classification include Postal and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (although GTA: San Andreas was re-released and received an MA15+ rating).
Organization
In February 2006, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock announced that the policy and administrative functions of the Office of Film and Literature Classification would be part of the Attorney-General’s Department. While the Classification Board and Classification Review Board would continue to make classification decisions, they would be serviced by a secretariat from the Attorney-General’s Department.
Classification Board
The Classification Board is an independent statutory body which makes classification decisions about films, computer games and publications. It bases its decisions on principles set out in the National Classification Code[1] which had been agreed to by the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
The Board also decides what consumer advice should be provided. Consumer advice is designed to let consumers know which elements (for example violence, sex, coarse language, themes, drug use and/or nudity) have led to the classification.
The Board also provides advice to the Australian Customs in relation to the importation of publications, videos and computer games and deals with referrals from the police and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The Board classifies Internet sites referred by the ACMA and video content developed for distribution over mobile phone networks.
The Board is required to apply the law and classification guidelines in making its decisions. The decisions of the Board can be appealed to the Classification Review Board.
Members
Donald McDonald has been named as the new director but yet to be appointed by the Attorney-General’s Department. Critics are concerned the appointment facilitates the Government's ability to control or restrict material, in particular that which incites or instructs terrorism.[2]
The current members of the Classification Board are:
- Olya Booyar (deputy director)
- Wendy Banfield (senior classifier)
- Marie-Louise Carroll (senior classifier)
- Jeremy Fenton
- Alexandra Greene
- Robert Sanderson
- Rodney Smith
- Lynn Townsend
- Marlon Valbuena
Scope of the Board's Functions
In 2005-2006 the Classification Board made decisions on:
- 1,106 publications
- 434 films for public exhibition
- 6,427 videos or DVDs for sale or hire
- 750 computer games
- 34 Australian Broadcasting Authority Internet referrals
- 753 enforcement referrals
- 22 Australian Communications and Media Authority Internet referrals, and
- 110 enforcement referrals
National Classification Code
Every film (including videos and DVDs) and computer game, whether produced locally or overseas, has to be classified before it can be made legally shown, sold or hired in Australia. Some publications also need to be classified.
But it is also possible for a film, computer game or publication to be classified 'RC' (Refused Classification). This has the effect of having it banned.
Films
There are six classification categories for films: G, PG and M are advisory categories. These classifications are recommendations only and are not restricted to anyone.
MA 15+, R 18+ and X 18+ are legally restricted categories – in other words, there are laws regarding who can watch material classified MA 15+ and over.
Computer Games
There are four classification categories for computer games: G, PG, M, MA 15+. There is no R 18+ rating for computer games.
Publications
There are three classification categories for publications: Unrestricted, Category 1 – Restricted, Category 2 – Restricted.
Classification Review Board
The Classification Review Board, also an independent statutory body, can review original classification decisions in certain circumstances and make a fresh classification decision.
Members
The current members of the Classification Review Board:
- Maureen Shelley (convenor)
- Trevor Griffin (deputy convenor)
- Rob Shilkin
- Kathryn Smith
- Gillian Groom
- Anthony Hetrih
See also
- Censorship in Australia
- Banned films, which includes an extensive list of films banned in Australia.
- Video game controversy Looks at the history of games censorship in Australia
- Internet censorship in Australia
- List of pornography laws by region Australian hardcore pornography laws.
- CERO, the Japanese computer and video game rating system
- ESRB, the computer and video game rating system in North America
- ELSPA, the former British computer and video game rating system, replaced by the PEGI ratings.
- MPAA film rating system, the United States film rating system
- PEGI, the European computer and video game rating system
- USK, the German computer and video game rating system
- OFLC, the
New Zealand media rating system - IFCO, the Irish censorship rating system.
Footnotes
- ^ Contained in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth)
- ^ Censure as PM's pal turns censor
External links
- Refused-Classification.com Database of films, games, and books that have had problems with the OFLC
- Libertus Australia a website maintained by Irene Graham, the executive director of EFA.
- The Chopping List Database of films that have had censorship problems in Australia
- The Games Censorship Collection Games Censorship by the OFLC
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