Censorship in Australia is alive and well. There was a real sense of déjà vu about the recent decision of the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and Board of Review to refuse classification to Larry Clark’s film Ken Park. Last year the French film Baise Moi received similar treatment. A distributor applied to have the film classified for release. The refusal of classification effectively gazumped the Sydney Film Festival’s plans to screen Ken Park as the so-called “festival exemption” did not apply because it only relates to films that are yet to be classified. The decision is in stark contrast to that reached in New Zealand where the film was given an R18+ rating and approved for general release. The NZ OFLC made their decision after screening the film to focus groups and consulting with community representatives. Baise Moi was also given an R18+ rating and approved for general release in New Zealand. The fact that two countries, with much in common culturally, have adopted such different approaches raises questions about classification guidelines in Australia and also broader issues regarding the rights of adults to chose to see what they want to see.
Censorship has also reared its head in the literary community. One of the more insidious forms of censorship is the hidden censorship of funding bodies. Recently, the Mick Young Scholarship Trust withdrew its support for the Mick Young Play Award for 2003. Apparently, this was a result of the Trust's disapproval of the choice made by NIDA judges to award last year's prize to Juliet Lamont's play, Strange Fruit. The Trust complained about the content and themes of Lamont's play. Not only has the Trust discontinued its ongoing support for the Award, it has also sought to distance itself from last year's Award to Lamont and is reconsidering other funding it provides to NIDA. Arts Law is always concerned to hear of decisions like this one by arts funding bodies because, in our view, they have a chilling effect on artistic expression in Australia.
For more information see
- Sydney Film Festival
- Office of Film and Literature Classification, ph: (02) 9289 7100
- Watch on Censorship Inc
Alison Davis is former legal officer of Arts Law.