REFUSED CLASSIFICATION 
March 30th 2003-Present
NOTE: Films that exceed the R and X classification categories will be Refused Classification. 

Films and computer games will be refused classification if they include or contain any of the following:

Crime or Violence 
Detailed instruction or promotion in matters of crime or violence.
The promotion or provision of instruction in paedophile activity.
Depictions of child sexual abuse or any other exploitative or offensive depictions involving a person who is or who looks like a child under 16 years.
Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of:
(i) violence with a very high degree of impact or which are excessively frequent, prolonged or detailed;
(ii) cruelty or real violence which are very detailed or which have a high impact;
(iii) sexual violence.

Sex
Depictions of practices such as bestiality.
Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of:
(i) sexual activity accompanied by fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent;
(ii) incest fantasies or other fantasies which are offensive or abhorrent.

Drug Use
Detailed instruction in the use of proscribed drugs.
Material promoting or encouraging proscribed drug use.

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REFUSED CLASSIFICATION 
(April 1st 1994 - March 29th 2003)
Material which includes any of the following will be refused classification:

Violence
. depictions of realistic violence, even if not detailed, relished or cruel (eg. excessive and serious violence such as realistic depictions of dismemberment accompanied by loss of blood to real life images);
. extreme 'horror' scenarios or special effects; or
. depictions of unduly detailed and/or relished acts of extreme violence or cruelty.

Sex
. nudity, including genitalia unless there is a 'bona fide' educational, medical or community health purpose;
. simulated or explicit depictions of sexual acts between consenting adults;
. any depiction of sexual violence or sexual activity involving non-consent of any kind; or
. depictions of child sexual abuse, bestiality, sexual acts accompanied by offensive fetishes, or exploitative incest fantasies.

Language
. use of sexually explicit language.

Other
. detailed instruction or encouragement in: (i) matters of crime or violence; or (ii) the abuse of proscribed drugs;
. depictions which encourage the use of tobacco or alcohol, or which depict drug abuse; or
. depictions which are likely to endorse or promote ethnic, racial or religious hatred.

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R CLASSIFICATION 
March 30th 2003-Present

IMPACT TEST
The impact of material classified R should not exceed high.

NOTE: This classification category applies only to films. Material classified R is legally restricted to adults. Some material classified R may be offensive to sections of the adult community.

CLASSIFIABLE ELEMENTS

THEMES
There are virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes.

VIOLENCE
Violence is permitted.
Sexual violence may be implied, if justified by context.

SEX
Sexual activity may be realistically simulated. The general rule is
“simulation, yes – the real thing, no”.

LANGUAGE
There are virtually no restrictions on language.

DRUG USE
Drug use is permitted.

NUDITY
Nudity is permitted.

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R CLASSIFICATION 
(1996- March 29th 2003)

The R category is legally restricted to adults. Material which is given a restricted classification is unsuitable for those under 18 years of age. Material classified R deals with issues or contains depictions which require an adult perspective.

The classification is not intended as a comment on the quality of the material. Some material may be offensive to some sections of the community. Material which promotes or incites or instructs in matters of crime and/or violence is not permitted.

VIOLENCE
. Depictions of violence which are excessive will not be permitted.
. Strong depictions of realistic violence may be shown but depictions with a high degree of impact should not be gratuitous or exploitative.
. Sexual violence may only be implied and should not be detailed.
. Depictions must not be frequent, gratuitous or exploitative.
. Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of cruelty or real violence will not be permitted.

SEX
. Sexual activity may be realistically simulated; the general rule is "simulation, yes - the real thing no."

COARSE LANGUAGE
. There are virtually no restrictions on coarse language a R level.

ADULT THEMES
. The treatment of any themes with a very high degree of intensity should not be exploitative.

The OFLC listing contains two separate, but sometimes overlapping groups of films.

The first, and by far the largest, are those titles that have at some time had problems with the Australian Censors since the introduction of the R18+ rating in November 1971. The eventual aim is to cover all censorship decisions since this rating came into effect. Before this point it was just too widespread to even attempt to cover. 

The second group are those titles that have been confiscated by the Australian Customs Service (ACS). Some of these may also have been Refused Classification by the OFLC, whilst others were decided by Customs themselves. The only way to document these titles is information supplied by you. So if customs have taken a film of yours then send the details in for inclusion in the database.

 Hardcore titles, see the X18+ database. 

Films released cut by distributors for reasons other than OFLC demands. See the Miscellaneous listing. 

Changes of rating are only covered is they result in the film being cut to achieve it. THREE KINGS (covered) was reduced from an R18+ to an MA15+ through censorship. TROY (not covered) was reduced from MA15+ to M through an appeal to the Review Board.