Protest Against Censorship in Australia
Australia 2003
NSW Police prevent KEN PARK from
screening.
Does this situation make you angry?
Then do something
about it!
"I'm not aware that we've had too many complaints about any tightening of the system."
"I mean, we'll all carry on about these things in the pub, but we won't necessarily write letters to the local member."
Richard Alston, Minister for Communications, on the tightening of the X18+ rating. Deliver us from Evil 5th May 2000.
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Does your local member support censorship? Find out here.
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You should write to you local member.
Find the contact details at:
The House of
Representatives
The Senate
or search The
Australian Electoral
Commission site.
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"The OFLC welcomes community input as a strategy to keep the Board informed of community views."
Classification Board & Classification Review
Board
Annual Report 2004-2005
You can contact the OFLC at:
Levels 5 and 6
23-33 Mary Street
Surry Hills
Sydney NSW
Postal Address
Locked Bag 3
Haymarket NSW 1240
Telephone (02) 9289 7100
Facsimile (02) 9289 7101
e-mail oflcswitch@oflc.gov.au
Classification Board & Classification Review
Board
Annual Report 2004-2005
Client Service Charter
As part of its commitment to customer service, the OFLC acknowledges all email correspondence. The response informs the correspondent that they will receive, where requested, a full response within 20 working days, provided they have supplied their name and postal address.
The OFLC responds to all correspondence with a return postal address, provided it is not frivolous, vexatious or otherwise already adequately dealt with.
The OFLC has incorporated service charter standards into its induction training for new staff to ensure staff are aware of, and meet, these standards.
The Client Service Charter 2005 complies with the
Australian Public Service Commission’s Customer Service Charter Principles
(June 2000) and is available on the OFLC website at www.oflc.gov.au or by
request. Enquiries and other assistance
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Don't just complain to the OFLC, give them some positive feedback if you think they have made a good decision.
Before writing anything it is recommended that you read the advice at the Wintersun.org site.
Take the time to read Steve Cannane's Sydney Morning Herald Article about a small group of Queensland Christians who changed music classification in Australia.
Pressure from Religious groups has forced the OFLC to add warnings of "Supernatural Themes" to films such as E.T and HARRY POTTER. Note that films depicting people rising from the dead and performing miracles will not have to carry this warning.
Be aware that the attempted screening of KEN PARK at Balmain Town Hall in
July 2003 would have taken place had it not been for one complaint from
F*** Nile! This was despite the event being given saturation media coverage that
saw 500 people attend, and countless others turned away. No one, apart from Nile
cared. After his success he issued a gloating media release titled
"The Power of One – Fred Nile strikes again"
This is from a man whose followers turn up each year at the Sydney Gay
and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade to protest and pray for for rain.
Peter Johnson's article looks at the campaign by the Religious Right that lead to the banning of BAISE-MOI. Take note of his conclusions.
The Australian Family Association (AFA) are currently the most active of the Christian (Taliban) protest groups. They made a submission to the Review Board for BAISE-MOI and KEN PARK, both since banned. They were the force behind the call for Reviews of IRREVERSIBLE and ANATOMY OF HELL. Both films R18+ ratings were confirmed by the Review Board. This group will be back to protest the next controversial film that the OFLC passes. Their sponsor for the two failed Reviews was the South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson. Contact him with your opinions.
Don't dismiss these people. Their voice is heard because they know how to use the political process.
Learn more about the Religious Right in Australia here.
Deception details the true extent
of sex crime amongst church clergy.
Don't let these groups speak for you.
Get writing!
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The following is taken from the latest Classification Board and Classification Review Board Annual Report. It covers all the the complaints received by both Boards, as well as those sent to the Attorney-General, then forwarded on. Note that your feedback will be documented.
Classification Board & Classification Review
Board
Annual Report 2004-2005
Page 36
Classification Board
Publications complaints
The OFLC received 28 complaints about publications. Six complaints concerned the
content of some non-submittable lifestyle magazines. The remaining complaints
concerned product advertisements and the availability and placement of
Unrestricted publications in newsagents and service stations where they may be
accessed by children.
Page 37
Classification Board
Films – public exhibition – complaints
There were 142 complaints concerning commercial public exhibition films. The complaints included 25 regarding the MA15+ classification of the film Closer due to the inclusion of coarse language and sexual references and 15 complaints about Birth (MA15+) due to misleading media reports about the depiction of an adult-child relationship. Seven complaints were received about supposed simulated sex in The Notebook (PG).
The films Anatomie de L’enfer (Anatomy of Hell) (R18+) and Irreversible (R18+) received six and four complaints respectively, the complainants contending that the films should be RC.
The OFLC received five complaints about the X18+ classification of the film 9 Songs compared with 133 letters of support for the X18+ classification. Following review by the Classification Review Board, the film was classified R18+. Twelve complaints were received about the reduced classification. Further details on complaints about Classification Review Board decisions are included in the Classification Review Board Annual Report on page 94.
Other cinema complaints included five about violence in The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (G) and four about coarse language and sex in the film Bad Santa (MA15+). Three complaints concerned the use of coarse language and sex in Team America (MA15+) and two were received about the House of Flying Daggers (M) being edited by the distributor for Australian release. There were two complaints each for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (M), The Butterfly Effect (MA15+), Shark Tale (G) and Madagascar (G). Issues in these complaints included themes and violence.
A single complaint was also received about violence, sex or coarse language in a number of films. Titles included Sin City (MA15+), The Piano Teacher (R18+), Sideways (M), Kingdom of Heaven (M), Lost in Translation (PG) and The Machinist (M).
Twenty-two complaints were received concerning film trailers. Eleven of these complaints related to the trailer for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (subsequently rated M) being shown before G and PG classified films. Consistent with the rest of the Star Wars series, the film was granted exemption approval to be screened with films classified G or above prior to its classification by the Classification Board.
Page 39
Classification Board
Films – sale or hire – complaints
There were 93 complaints about videos and DVDs covering a range of films
including seven complaints about the film Irreversible (R18+). Three complaints
were received about the MA15+ classification for the film House of 1000 Corpses
being too low and two complaints each were received about the classifications of
the films Texas Chainsaw Massacre (MA15+) and Lost in Translation (PG) being too
low.
Two complaints were received about the RC decision for the film The Gore Gore Girls and one complaint was received about the RC decision for the film Tras El Cristal (In a Glass Cage). These complaints addressed the decisions of both the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board.
Individual complaints were also received about violence, coarse language and nudity in other films which in the opinion of the complainants placed the material in the incorrect classification category. Titles complained about included Sideways (M), Love Actually (M), Saw (MA15+), I Spit On Your Grave (R18+) and The Human Stain (MA15+).
Page 41
Classification Board
Computer games – complaints
The OFLC received 298 complaints about computer games including 153 complaints about the absence of an R18+ classification for computer games. Another 72 complaints related to concerns that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was edited by the distributor to obtain an MA15+ classification, while 16 complaints related to concerns that Half Life 2 (MA15+) would be classified RC. A further 16 complaints protested the RC decision for the computer game Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude. There is some overlap between the figures quoted above as some people raised several of these issues in the one item of correspondence.
There were also five complaints that the rating for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (MA15+) was too low due to the depiction of violence. A single complaint was received about coarse language in Jak 2 (PG), the depiction of violence in The Simpsons: Hit & Run (G) and perceived domestic violence in Fable (MA15+).
Page
46
Classification Board
Complaints
A total of 669 complaints were received in 2004-05 compared with a total of 361 complaints during 2003-04. When given contact details, the OFLC generally responded in writing or by telephone to complaints within 20 working days.
As mentioned previously, there were 142 complaints about public exhibition films, 93 about films for sale or hire, 28 about publications and 298 about computer games.
The issue that attracted the highest volume of complaints was the absence of a R18+ classification for computer games with 153 complaints received.
Out of all complaints, only 126 individual titles of films, computer games or publications were complained about. This compares with 9,294 classification decisions.
The OFLC welcomes community input as a strategy to keep the Board informed of community views.
General
The OFLC received 69 general complaints that did not refer to classification decisions. Of these, 45 covered a broad range of classification issues including requests for specific consumer advice, generalised concerns about depictions of nudity, sex and violence, concerns about classification standards and calls for reduced censorship.
There were 12 complaints about the new determined markings for films and computer games while four letters of support for the markings were received. The remaining complaints included three about blasphemy and four relating to the OFLC website.
Miscellaneous
The OFLC also received 39 complaints about entertainment products or media that fell outside its area of responsibility. Of these, 23 were about television programs and seven concerned television advertisements. In addition, eight complaints were received about product advertisements in other forms of media such as newspapers, catalogues and billboards.
See also Ministerial Correspondence in Objective Two for discussion of the issues in correspondence directed to the Attorney-General.
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Classification
Board & Classification Review Board
Annual Report 2004-2005
Page 54
Ministerial correspondence
The OFLC processed 197 items of ministerial correspondence, including letters,
emails and facsimiles, referred by the Attorney-General in the reporting period.
This compares with 250 items of ministerial correspondence during 2004-05.
The main issues raised in the correspondence were:
* the R18+ classifications of the films Anatomie de L’enfer (Anatomy of Hell) (15 items) and Irreversible (9 items)
* the film Birth (13 items)
* the Classification Review Board’s R18+ classification decision for the film 9 Songs (48 items)
* the lack of an R18+ classification for computer games (22 items).
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Classification
Board & Classification Review Board
Annual Report 2004-2005
Page 94
Classification Review Board
Complaints
The OFLC received 12 complaints which specifically addressed the Classification Review Board’s R18+ decision for the film 9 Songs. Two complaints were received about the Classification Review Board’s PG decision for the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
While 15 complaints were received about the Classification Review Board’s RC decision for the computer game Manhunt, nine letters in support of the decision were received.
The OFLC also received six complaints about Anatomie de L’enfer (Anatomy of Hell) (R18+) and 11 complaints about Irreversible (R18+), most of which addressed the decisions of both the Classification Board and Classification Review Board.
Two complaints were received about the RC decision for the film The Gore Gore Girls and one complaint was received about the RC decision for the film Tras El Cristal (In a Glass Cage). These complaints addressed the decisions of both the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board.
Two complaints expressed concern that the Classification Review Board’s M classification of the film Constantine was too low due to the depiction of violence.
One complaint was received from the applicant for review of the film The Sexualisation of Girl Children and Adolescents on the Internet, which the Classification Review Board classified RC during the previous reporting period.
Of the ministerials processed on behalf of the Attorney-General, 48 ministerial complaints specifically referred to the Classification Review Board’s R18+ classification of the film 9 Songs. Twenty-four were complaints about the R18+ classifications for the films Anatomie de L’enfer (Anatomy of Hell) and Irreversible, most of which addressed the decisions of both the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board.
Further information about complaints received by the OFLC is available in Objective One of the Report on the activities of the Board and the OFLC. Details about ministerial correspondence are available in Objective Two on page 54.