Federal Attorney-General response on violence in the media
21 April 1998
Ms Trish White MP
Member for Taylor
2/3 Park Terrace
SALISBURY SA 5108
Dear Ms White
I refer to concerns raised in your letter of 13 January 1998 on behalf of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia regarding action taken by this Government to reduce depictions of violence in the media, and regarding possible links between such depictions and criminal acts.
The depiction of violence in publications, films and computer games is governed by a national classification scheme which came into effect on 1 January 1996. The regulation of broadcast media, including television, is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, an independent Federal statutory authority.
Under the national classification scheme the Commonwealth Classification Board (the Board) is responsible for classifying publications, films and computer games in accordance with Commonwealth, State and Territory classification laws. The enforcement of these laws is the responsibility of each State and Territory. All submittable publications, films and computer games must be classified by the Board before being publicly exhibited distributed or sold. The Board does not classify television programs.
The Board assesses publications, films and computer games against criteria contained in the National Classification Code (the Code) and in classification guidelines which are approved by all Australian Ministers with censorship responsibilities.
The Code provides that 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 form material likely to harm or disturb them;
(c) everyone should be protected form exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;
(d) the need to take account of community concerns about
- depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and
- the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.
The role of Government is to ensure that the criteria and guidelines under which classification decisions are made are appropriate, that they reflect contemporary standards in the community, and that the persons charged with making the decisions are broadly representative of that community.
This Government has taken action to address public concerns about violence in the media. In May 1996, the Minister for Communications, the Arts and Information Economy, Senator the Hon Richard Alston chaired a Ministerial Committee formed by the Government to inquire into the portrayal of violence in the electronic media. I have enclosed for your information a copy of the Minister’s press release of 9 July 1996 outlining the Government’s decisions on ways to tighten controls on media violence. The decisions are currently being implemented or have already been implemented by a range of commonwealth and State departments and authorities as well as industry bodies.
The Government believes these measures represent a realistic and appropriate response to legitimate community concern about the depiction of excessive levels of violence in the media.
In July 1996, the Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with censorship responsibilities approved revised guidelines to remove high level violence material from the R’18+’ classification. Such material is now classified ‘RC’’ (Refused Classification). Films classified ‘RC’ cannot be publicly shown or sold, hired or distributed. Ministers also approved the case by case reclassification of films classified high M’15+’prior to the introduction of the restricted ‘MA15+’ classification in 1993 on a complaints basis.
The scheme of regulation of television programs differs form that of films, publications and computer games. Since 1986 the television industry has operated under a scheme of self-regulation.
Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA), the Parliament established a broadcasting regulatory system that relies essentially on industry self-regulation through codes of practice. The Act also created the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) as an independent statutory authority with responsibility for registering codes developed by the radio and broadcasting industry, for monitoring compliance with codes and for investigating unresolved complaints.
Although there is no legal requirement for films broadcast on television services to be classified by the Board, the BSA prohibits a licensee form broadcasting a film which has been classified ‘RC’ or ‘X’ by the OFLC. In addition, the BSA also prohibits a licensee from broadcasting a film which has been classified ‘R’ unless the film has been modified in accordance with the criteria specified in the BSA.
If you have any complaints regarding editorials and articles in the print media, you may contact the Australian Press Council which is a body established and funded by the print media. Any complaints about advertising in any medium should be directed the the Advertising Standards Board.
Thank you for writing to express you views.
(signed)
DARYL WILLIAMS
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