🚀 go-pugleaf

In September 1999, EFA lodged Freedom of Information Applications on the
Queensland Department of Equity and Fair Trading (QDEFT). This department
includes the Queensland censorship office.

After a lengthy process, taking 9 months and involving objections by the
Commonwealth Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) to the
release of some information, the vast majority of documents identified by
the Queensland Department as being relevant to EFA's application were
released to EFA in March and June 2000.

The purpose of these FOI applications was to ascertain the basis for the
the Queensland Censorship Minister's (Ms Judy Spence) media release of 16
September 1999 regardng Qld censorship policy.

However, in addition to information regarding Queensland policy, the
documents released under FOI include considerable information about the
OFLC's Review of Publications Classification Guidelines (undertaken during
1997-1999). The review resulted in revised, significantly more restrictive,
guidelines effective from 1 September 1999. Documents released include 
briefing/recommendation papers provided to the Standing Committee of
Attorneys-General - Censorship, extracts of Minutes of those meetings, and
reports of the OFLC and its independent consultants (Professor Peter
Sheehan and Dr Judith Bowey).

The following information is now available online:

- FOI application and related corro
- Schedule of documents released and links to a considerable number online
  http://www.efa.org.au/FOI/qdeft/

- Publications too 'raunchy' for Queensland adults to read?
  A Report on the basis for the Queensland Censorship Minister's Media
  Release of 16 September 1999.
  http://www.efa.org.au/Analysis/qldraunchy.html

- Community Views - Whose Views?
  A Report on the OFLC 1997-9 Review of the Publications Classification
  Guidelines.
  http://www.efa.org.au/Analysis/oflcpublrev989.html

Key Findings of a Review of Documents Released

- The Queensland Department was unable to provide any research, by
themselves or the OFLC, to support the Minister's claim that Unrestricted
publications had become "raunchier". 

-  The decision to leave the Queensland ban on Restricted (Category 1 and
2) publications in place appears to have been made by the Minister without
consultation with any members of the Queensland Parliament or Queensland
citizens.

- A paper listing three options for Queensland censorship policy on
publications, apparently prepared for the Minister in early 1999 stated,
inter alia, "Many hundreds of letters recently received from consumers
advocating the sale of adult material". 

- The OFLC received a mere 147 submissions to the Review of Publications
Classification Guidelines (despite having distributed over 1400 information
packages directly as well as advertising in newspapers). There is no
evidence that the significantly more censorious Guidelines represent
widespread community views. The probable unrepresentativeness of the
submitters was raised by the OFLC's independent consultant, Professor Peter
Sheehan. 

- 35% of submissions received were part of three localised letter writing
campaigns (Wagga Wagga, Nambucca Heads and Melbourne) and over half of
these commented mainly on their concern over sex and violence on
television, not in publications. 

- 42% of the groups who lodged submissions were clearly identifiable as
religious groups. 86% of the individuals (including letter writing
campaigns) were readily identifiable as pro-censorship. Three occupational
categories recurred among this group: teachers (primary school),
counsellors, and priests or religious ministers. 

- Some OFLC claims about community views are not supported by their own 85
page Analysis of the submissions.

- While historically it has been claimed that the Commonwealth's role is
solely that of classification, leaving enforcement relative to sale and
distribution to the States and Territories, the OFLC sought and received
approval for an increased OFLC role in enforcement.

- There are indications that a lowest common denominator approach, based on
State/Territory policy, is being implemented in Commonwealth law. 

- Encroaching censorship in Australia will not cease until or unless a
significantly increased number of persons, who are happy with the
censorship status quo, or desire less restriction, put pen to paper to the
OFLC and their parliamentary representatives. Moaning about it in the pub,
on street corners or on Net mailing lists and in newsgroups will not change
the direction of censorship policy. Nor will relying on one or more
organisations/groups to submit bulk views.

The OFLC is presently preparing to call for public submissions in relation
to their review of the Classification Guidelines for Computer Games.


Irene

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Irene Graham
Executive Director - Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. (EFA)
EFA: <http://www.efa.org.au> Burning Issues: <http://rene.efa.org.au>
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