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Because a member of the Classification Board sent a letter to a Government Minister?

JacobAldridge 17y ago
It was a general comment about the current state of censorship at a federal level. This specific issue may be a fair question to ask, but within the web filter debate, lack of an R18+ rating for games, and an inconsistent censorship regime throughout the country, I feel the questions being asked are at least ten years too late.
- jstevens85 17y ago
  I think the problems are overstated. There really isn't a web filter debate. It's really a bunch of people yelling at a rogue Labour minister who has too much power as leader of the right faction. There are very few people arguing in favour of the plan, and it looks like it will be impossible to pass through parliament. The lack of an R18+ rating is more a reflection of the problems with the constitution. The federal parliament is unable to make censorship laws that apply to the entire country, and we are therefore dependent upon all six states to agree. The situation now is that 5 states support an 18+ rating, one doesn't. The serious censorship problems are really that several films, such as Ken Park, have been banned even though there exists an 18+ rating for cinema. Also, the banning of one of Philip Nitschke's books is troubling.
  - JacobAldridge 17y ago
    I didn't realise the R18+ issue was state-related. Who's the hold out? I hope you're right about the web filter debate. I would have said the same thing about the GST, but then there's a big distinction between a PM's personal agenda and a "rogue Labor minister".
    - jstevens85 17y ago
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Film_and_Literature_Classification_(Australia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Film_and_Literature_C... "Currently only Michael Atkinson, South Australian Attorney-General opposes the R18 classification introduction and is also blocking the release of a public paper that canvasses the opinion of the Australian public on whether or not an R18 classification should be introduced." Don't really understand the opposition to the GST. It massively simplified the sales tax system in Australia. We're one of the lowest taxing countries in the developed world.
      - JacobAldridge 17y ago
        Thanks. My GST comment wasn't a judgement on it, just a policy comparison. If you'd asked me in '98/'99 about whether Howard would get it through, my response would have been something along the lines of "it looks like it will be impossible to pass through parliament". Here's hoping that's where the comparison ends.

It was a general comment about the current state of censorship at a federal level. This specific issue may be a fair question to ask, but within the web filter debate, lack of an R18+ rating for games, and an inconsistent censorship regime throughout the country, I feel the questions being asked are at least ten years too late.

jstevens85 17y ago
I think the problems are overstated. There really isn't a web filter debate. It's really a bunch of people yelling at a rogue Labour minister who has too much power as leader of the right faction. There are very few people arguing in favour of the plan, and it looks like it will be impossible to pass through parliament. The lack of an R18+ rating is more a reflection of the problems with the constitution. The federal parliament is unable to make censorship laws that apply to the entire country, and we are therefore dependent upon all six states to agree. The situation now is that 5 states support an 18+ rating, one doesn't. The serious censorship problems are really that several films, such as Ken Park, have been banned even though there exists an 18+ rating for cinema. Also, the banning of one of Philip Nitschke's books is troubling.
- JacobAldridge 17y ago
  I didn't realise the R18+ issue was state-related. Who's the hold out? I hope you're right about the web filter debate. I would have said the same thing about the GST, but then there's a big distinction between a PM's personal agenda and a "rogue Labor minister".
  - jstevens85 17y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Film_and_Literature_Classification_(Australia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Film_and_Literature_C... "Currently only Michael Atkinson, South Australian Attorney-General opposes the R18 classification introduction and is also blocking the release of a public paper that canvasses the opinion of the Australian public on whether or not an R18 classification should be introduced." Don't really understand the opposition to the GST. It massively simplified the sales tax system in Australia. We're one of the lowest taxing countries in the developed world.
    - JacobAldridge 17y ago
      Thanks. My GST comment wasn't a judgement on it, just a policy comparison. If you'd asked me in '98/'99 about whether Howard would get it through, my response would have been something along the lines of "it looks like it will be impossible to pass through parliament". Here's hoping that's where the comparison ends.