Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Purpose ............................................................................................... 1

4............ Powers and functions under State or Territory laws .......................... 1

5............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

5A......... Meaning of computer game ................................................................ 6

5B......... Exempt films and exempt computer games .......................................... 7

6............ Amendments of the Code ................................................................... 8

6A......... Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................... 9

Part 2--Classification                                                                                                          10

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             10

7............ Types of classifications .................................................................... 10

8............ Markings for classifications .............................................................. 11

8A......... Notice about classifications .............................................................. 11

Division 2--Classification of publications, films and computer games    12

9............ Classification in accordance with the Code ...................................... 12

9A......... Refused Classification for publications, films or computer games that advocate terrorist acts               12

10.......... Classifications in writing etc. ............................................................ 13

11.......... Matters to be considered in classification ........................................ 13

12.......... Classification guidelines .................................................................... 13

13.......... Applications for classification of publications ................................. 14

13A....... Conditions of certain classifications for publications ....................... 15

14.......... Applications for classification of films ............................................ 15

14A....... Films consisting only of classified films ........................................... 17

15.......... Discretion of Board .......................................................................... 17

16.......... Board may decline to deal with application if more than one work involved           18

17.......... Applications for classification of computer games .......................... 19

18.......... Considered form of publication, film or computer game to be final . 20

19.......... Screening of films and demonstration of computer games before classification       20

20.......... Board to decide consumer advice for publications, films and computer games        21

21.......... Declassification of classified films or computer games that are modified                 22

21A....... Revocation of classification of films or computer games that are found to contain contentious material                22

21AA.... Revocation of classification of films containing additional content .. 23

22.......... Classification of publications, films or computer games containing advertisements                23

22A....... Applications for classification for enforcement purposes ............... 24

22B....... Classification of a publication, film or computer game that may be the same as or similar to a classified item       24

22C....... Validation of Board decisions etc. on applications by law enforcement agencies    25

Division 2A--Assessments of additional content                                        26

Subdivision A--Additional content assessors                                                      26

22D....... Additional content assessors ............................................................ 26

22E........ Revocation of additional content assessor status ............................. 26

22F........ Barring notice to additional content assessor ................................... 27

22G....... Review by AAT ............................................................................... 27

Subdivision B--Barring notices to applicants                                                      28

22H....... Barring notice to applicant ............................................................... 28

22J........ Review by AAT ............................................................................... 28

Division 3--Submittable publications                                                                 29

23.......... Calling in submittable publications for classification ....................... 29

Division 3A--Calling in films                                                                                  30

23A....... Calling in films for classification ....................................................... 30

Division 4--Calling in computer games                                                            31

24.......... Calling in computer games for classification ..................................... 31

Division 5--Notice of decisions                                                                             33

25.......... Classification certificates .................................................................. 33

26.......... Notice of decisions ........................................................................... 33

27.......... Applications for information ............................................................ 34

28.......... When decisions take effect ............................................................... 35

Division 6--Certificates for exempt films or computer games             36

28A....... Application for certificate ................................................................ 36

28B....... Granting certificates .......................................................................... 37

28C....... Revocation of certificate ................................................................... 37

Part 3--Approval of advertisements                                                                           38

Division 1--Approval of general advertisements                                        38

29.......... Approval of advertisements ............................................................. 38

30.......... Calling in advertisements .................................................................. 39

Division 2--Advertising for unclassified films                                               41

31.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 41

32.......... Certificates of exemption .................................................................. 41

33.......... Granting of certificates of exemption ............................................... 41

34.......... Board may refuse certificate ............................................................. 42

35.......... Conditions of exemptions ................................................................. 42

36.......... Revocation of exemptions ................................................................ 42

37.......... Review of decision not to grant exemption ...................................... 42

Part 4--Reclassification                                                                                                     43

38.......... Limit on reclassification .................................................................... 43

39.......... Reclassification etc. after 2 years ..................................................... 43

40.......... Notice of intention to reclassify etc. ................................................ 44

41.......... Consideration of submissions ........................................................... 44

Part 5--Review of decisions                                                                                            45

42.......... The persons who may apply for review .......................................... 45

42A....... Review Board may refuse to deal with certain applications ............ 46

43.......... Applications for review .................................................................... 46

44.......... Dealing with applications ................................................................. 46

44A....... Obtaining copies for review .............................................................. 47

44B....... Validation of Review Board decisions etc. in relation to decisions on applications by law enforcement agencies 47

Part 6--The Classification Board                                                                                 49

Division 1--Establishment of the Board                                                           49

45.......... Establishment of Classification Board .............................................. 49

46.......... Constitution of Board ....................................................................... 49

47.......... Maximum number of members ......................................................... 49

48.......... Appointment of members ................................................................ 49

49.......... Full‑time and part‑time appointments ............................................. 49

50.......... Temporary members ........................................................................ 50

51.......... Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................. 50

Division 2--Responsibilities and powers of the Director                        51

52.......... Responsibilities and powers of the Director .................................... 51

53.......... Powers of Director under State/Territory laws ................................ 51

Division 4--Procedure of the Board                                                                   52

56.......... Board to regulate its procedure ......................................................... 52

57.......... Decisions of the Board ..................................................................... 52

58.......... Procedures that apply to meetings of the Board .............................. 52

Division 5--Administrative provisions                                                              54

59.......... Delegations ....................................................................................... 54

60.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 54

61.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 54

62.......... Outside employment ........................................................................ 55

63.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 55

64.......... Disclosure of interests ...................................................................... 55

65.......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 55

66.......... Acting appointments ........................................................................ 57

67.......... Annual report ................................................................................... 58

Part 7--The Review Board                                                                                              59

Division 1--Establishment of the Review Board                                         59

72.......... Establishment of Classification Review Board ................................. 59

73.......... Constitution of Review Board .......................................................... 59

74.......... Appointment of members of the Review Board .............................. 59

75.......... Members of the Review Board to be part‑time ................................ 59

76.......... Terms and conditions of appointment ............................................. 59

Division 2--Responsibilities and powers of the Convenor                     61

77.......... Responsibilities and powers of the Convenor .................................. 61

77A....... Powers of Convenor under State/Territory laws .............................. 61

Division 3--Procedure of the Review Board                                                  62

78.......... Constitution of Review Board for the purpose of its functions ...... 62

79.......... Decisions of the Review Board ........................................................ 62

Division 4--Administrative provisions                                                              63

79A....... Delegations ....................................................................................... 63

80.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 63

81.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 63

82.......... Disclosure of interests ...................................................................... 64

83.......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 64

84.......... Acting appointments ........................................................................ 66

85.......... Annual report ................................................................................... 66

Part 8--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        67

87.......... Evidentiary certificates ..................................................................... 67

87A....... Board to make decisions within a specified time .............................. 68

87B....... Review Board to make decisions within a specified time ................. 68

88.......... Additional functions of Board .......................................................... 68

88A....... Staff assisting the Board and the Review Board ............................... 68

89.......... Service of notices .............................................................................. 69

90.......... Payments to the States and Territories ............................................ 69

91.......... Waiver of fees ................................................................................... 69

91A....... Commonwealth not liable to pay a fee ............................................. 71

91B....... Cancellation of exemptions from fees ............................................... 71

91C....... Debts due to the Commonwealth ..................................................... 72

92.......... Act not to apply to broadcasting services under Broadcasting Services Act           72

92A....... Proceedings arising out of administration of Board or Review Board 72

93.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 72

Part 9--Transitional provisions and repeals                                                          74

94.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 74

95.......... Service of member of former Board or former Review Board .......... 74

96.......... Decisions of former Board and former Review Board ...................... 74

97.......... Pending applications ......................................................................... 75

97A....... Reclassification ................................................................................. 75

98.......... Repeals ............................................................................................. 75

Part 10--Material prohibited in prescribed areas                                              76

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             76

99.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 76

100........ Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws ........................... 77

Division 2--Offences                                                                                                   79

101........ Possession or control of level 1 prohibited material in prescribed areas 79

102........ Possession or control of level 2 prohibited material in prescribed areas 79

103........ Supplying prohibited material in and to prescribed areas ................ 79

104........ Body corporate managers taken to have committed offences .......... 81

105........ Division does not apply to postal services ...................................... 81

Division 3--Seizure and forfeiture of prohibited material                        82

106........ Seizure of prohibited material ........................................................... 82

107........ Seizure notices .................................................................................. 82

108........ Return of seized material--on request ............................................. 83

109........ Return of seized material--application to magistrate ...................... 83

110........ Seized material forfeited to the Commonwealth ............................... 83

111........ Relationship of Division to other laws ............................................. 84

Division 4--Miscellaneous                                                                                       85

112........ Evidence ............................................................................................ 85

113........ Compensation for acquisition of property ....................................... 85

114........ Minister may repeal provisions of this Part .................................... 85

115........ Sunset provision [see Note 1] .......................................................... 86

Notes                                                                                                                                             87

An Act relating to the classification of publications, films and computer games, and related matters

  

Notes to the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995

Note 1

The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 7, 1995 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For cessation details of Part 10 see section 115.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995	7, 1995	15 Mar 1995	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Jan 1996 (see Gazette 1995, No. GN50)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997	34, 1997	17 Apr 1997	Schedule 2: Royal Assent (a)	--
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (items 293--296): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (b)	--
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act (No. 1) 2000	111, 2000	4 Sept 2000	4 Sept 2000	--
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act (No. 1) 2001	13, 2001	22 Mar 2001	22 Mar 2002	Sch. 1 (item 57)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	24, 2001	6 Apr 2001	S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 6: (c)	S. 4(1), (2)
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act 2004	61, 2004	26 May 2004	Schedules 1 and 2: 26  May 2005 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (items 16--21)
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act (No. 2) 2004	140, 2004	14 Dec 2004	14 Dec 2004	--
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act 2007	27, 2007	15 Mar 2007	Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 (items 1, 3--6, 10--13, 15, 19, 20, 26): 1 July 2007 (see F2007L01781) Schedule 2 (items 7, 9, 14, 17, 18), Schedule 3 (items 7, 8) and Schedule 4 (items 10--14): 15 Mar 2008 Schedule 2 (items 16, 21--25) and Schedule 3 (items 1--6, 9--12): 15 Sept 2007 Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (items 18--21), Sch. 2 (items 27--29), Sch. 3 (item 13) and Sch. 4 (items 2, 4, 13)
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Act 2007	128, 2007	17 Aug 2007	Ss. 3--5: Royal Assent Schedule 1: 14 Sept 2007	Ss. 3--5
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Act 2007	179, 2007	28 Sept 2007	29 Sept 2007	Sch. 1 (item 4)
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Board and Other Measures) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008	26, 2008	23 June 2008	Schedule 1 (items 47--54): Royal Assent	--
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Assessments and Advertising) Act 2008	69, 2008	1 July 2008	Schedule 1: [see Note 2 and Table A] Schedule 2: [see Note 2 and Table A] Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 1 (item 13) and Sch. 2 (item 5)

(a)     The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 2 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(b)    The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 293--296) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(c)     The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 6 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(a) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the later of the following times:

                              (a)   immediately after the commencement of item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000;

         Item 15 commenced on 24 May 2001.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 4.......................................	am. No. 27, 2007
S. 5 ......................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001; No. 61, 2004; Nos. 27 and 179, 2007
S. 5A ...................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 5B ...................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
	am. No. 61, 2004
S. 6A ...................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Part 2
Division 1
S. 7 ......................................	am. No. 61, 2004
S. 8 ......................................	am. No. 13, 2001; No. 27, 2007
S. 8A....................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Division 2
S. 9.......................................	am. No. 179, 2007
S. 9A....................................	ad. No. 179, 2007
S. 10 ....................................	am. No. 13, 2001
S. 13.....................................	am. No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001
Note to s. 13.........................	ad. No. 111, 2000
S. 13A .................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
Subhead. to s. 14(1)............	ad. No. 27, 2007
Subhead. to s. 14(4)............	ad. No. 27, 2007
S. 14 ....................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001; No. 27, 2007
Note to s. 14(1)....................	ad. No. 111, 2000
S. 14A..................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
S. 15.....................................	am. No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001
Notes to s. 15(3), (4)...........	ad. No. 111, 2000
S. 16 ....................................	rs. No. 13, 2001
S. 17.....................................	am. No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001; No. 61, 2004; No. 27, 2007
Note to s. 17(1)....................	ad. No. 111, 2000
Heading to s. 18 ..................	am. No. 13, 2001
Ss. 18, 19 ............................	am. No. 13, 2001
Heading to s. 20 ..................	am. No. 13, 2001
S. 20 ....................................	am. No. 13, 2001; No. 61, 2004
Heading to s. 21 ..................	rs. No. 34, 1997
S. 21 ....................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 13, 2001; No. 27, 2007
S. 21A .................................	ad. No. 34, 1997
	rs. No. 13, 2001
S. 21AA...............................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Heading to s. 22 ..................	am. No. 13, 2001
S. 22.....................................	am. No. 111, 2000; No. 13, 2001
S. 22A..................................	ad. No. 111, 2000
	am. No. 13, 2001
Note to s. 22A......................	ad. No. 111, 2000
S. 22B..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 22C..................................	ad. No. 140, 2004
	am. No. 27, 2007
Division 2A
Div. 2A of Part 2...................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Subdivision A
Ss. 22D--22G........................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Subdivision B
S. 22H..................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
S. 22J...................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Division 3
Note to s. 23(4)....................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Division 3A
Div. 3A of Part 2...................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 23A..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
Division 4
S. 24.....................................	am. No. 13, 2001
Note to s. 24(4)....................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Division 5
S. 25.....................................	am. No. 27, 2007
Subhead. to s. 26(1)............	ad. No. 27, 2007
Subheads. to s. 26(3)--(5)...	ad. No. 27, 2007
S. 26.....................................	am. No. 27, 2007
S. 27.....................................	am. No. 111, 2000; No. 27, 2007
Notes to s. 27(2), (3)...........	ad. No. 111, 2000
Division 6
Div. 6 of Part 2.....................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 28A..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
	am. No. 61, 2004
S. 28B..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 28C..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
	am. No. 61, 2004
Part 3
Division 1
S. 29 ....................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 27, 2007
Note to s. 30(3)....................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Division 2
S. 33 ....................................	am. No. 61, 2004
Part 4
Ss. 38, 39.............................	am. No. 13, 2001
Part 5
S. 42.....................................	am. No. 13, 2001; No. 61, 2004
S. 42A..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
S. 44A..................................	ad. No. 13, 2001
	am. No. 27, 2007
S. 44B..................................	ad. No. 140, 2004
	am. No. 27, 2007
Part 6
Division 1
S. 47.....................................	am. No. 27, 2007
Division 2
S. 52.....................................	am. No. 27, 2007
S. 53.....................................	am. No. 13, 2001; No. 27, 2007
Div. 3 of Part 6.....................	rep. No. 27, 2007
S. 54.....................................	am. No. 146, 1999
	rep. No. 27, 2007
S. 55.....................................	rep. No. 27, 2007
Division 5
S. 59.....................................	am. No. 146, 1999; No. 27, 2007
S. 61.....................................	am. No. 146, 1999
S. 65.....................................	am. No. 26, 2008
S. 67.....................................	rs. No. 27, 2007
Ss. 68, 69.............................	rep. No. 27, 2007
S. 70.....................................	am. No. 24, 2001
	rep. No. 27, 2007
S. 71.....................................	rep. No. 27, 2007
Part 7
Division 1
S. 73.....................................	am. No. 27, 2007
Division 2
S. 77A..................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
Division 4
S. 79A..................................	ad. No. 27, 2007
S. 83.....................................	am. No. 26, 2008
Part 8<