Appendix 4
DEFINITIONS USED IN STATE LEGISLATION
VICTORIA - Classification (Publications, Films and Computer
Games) (Enforcement) 1995
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN - Censorship Act 1996
NORTHERN TERRITORY - Classification of Publications, Film
and Computer Games Act 1995
The Western Australian and Northern Territory Acts define "objectionable
material" thus:
(a) a film classified RC, a computer game classified RC or a refused
publication; child pornography;
(b) an article that promotes crime or violence, or incites or instructs
in matters of crime or violence, or incites or instructs in matters
of crime or violence; or
(c) an article that describes or depicts, in a manner that is likely
to cause offence to a reasonable adult -
(i) the use of violence or coercion to compel a person to participate
in, or submit to, sexual conduct;
(ii) sexual conduct with or on the body of a dead person
(iii) the use of urine or excrement in association with degrading
or dehumanising conduct or sexual conduct;
(iv) bestiality; or
(v) acts of torture or the infliction of extreme violence or extreme
cruelty;
"restricted material" means an article that a reasonable
adult, by reason of the nature of the article or the nature and extent
of references in the article to matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction,
crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena, would
regard as unsuitable for a minor to see, read or hear.
Material that is "classified" RC (publications, films or
computer games) is described in the National Classification Code (a
schedule to the Commonwealth Classification (Publications, Films
and Computer Games) Act 1995. See pp 3-5 of this Appendix.
Victoria Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Enforcement)
1995
In the Victorian legislation
"objectionable material" means
(a) an objectionable publication: or
(b) an objectionable film; or
(c) a computer game that
(i) depicts, expresses or otherwise deals with matters of sex, drug
misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent
phenomena in such a way that it offends against the standards of morality,
decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the
extent that it should not be classified; or
(ii) describes or depicts a person who is, or looks like, a minor
under 16 engaging in sexual activity or depicted in an indecent sexual
manner or context; or
(iii) promotes, incites or instructs in matters of crime or violence;
or
(iv) is unsuitable for a minor to see or play; or
(v) is classified RC or would, if classified, be classified RC.
SCHEDULE
NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION CODE
Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the
following principles:
(a) adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want;
(b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb
them;
(c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material
that they find offensive;
(d) the need to take account of community concerns about:
(i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual
violence; and
(ii) the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner
PUBLICATIONS
Publications are to be classified in accordance with the following Table:
Description of publication |
Classification |
1. Publications that:
(a) describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters
of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or
revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend
against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally
accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not
be classified; or
(b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence
to a reasonable adult, a minor who is, or who appears to be, under
16 (whether the minor is engaged in sexual activity or not); or
(c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence.
|
RC |
2. Publications (except RC publications) that::
(a) explicitly depict sexual or sexually related activity between
consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to
a reasonable adult: or
(b) depict, describe or express revolting or abhorrent phenomena
in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult
and are unsuitable for a minor to see or read.
|
CATEGORY 2
RESTRICTED
|
3. Publications (except RC publications and Category
2 restricted publications) that:
(a) explicitly depict nudity, or describe or impliedly depict
sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults,
in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult;
or
(b) describe or express in detail violence or sexual activity
between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence
to a reasonable adult; or
(c) are unsuitable for a minor to see or read.
|
CATEGORY 1
RESTRICTED
|
4. All other publications
|
|
FILMS
Description of film |
Classification |
1. Films that:
(a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug
misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or
abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the
standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted
by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified;
or
(b) depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable
adult a minor who is, or who appears to be, under 16 (whether
or not engaged in sexual activity); or
(c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence.
|
RC |
COMPUTER GAMES
Description of computer game |
Classification |
1. Computer games that:
(a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug
misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or
abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the
standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted
by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified;
or
(b) depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable
adult a minor who is, or who appears to be, under 16 (whether
or not engaged in sexual activity); or
(c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violene,
or
(d) are unsuitable for a minor to see or play.
|
RC |