2D |
Two dimensional |
3D |
Three dimensional |
ACMA |
Australian Communications and Media Authority |
ACA Scheme |
Additional Content Assessor Scheme |
Advertising Scheme |
The Advertising of Unclassified Films and Computer Games Scheme |
APS |
Australian Public Service |
ATSA Scheme |
Authorised Television Series Assessor Scheme |
Business Online |
An online applications system which allows business clients to track their applications for classification of films, computer games or publications |
BSA |
Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) |
Call in |
The Director of the Classification Board may call in publications if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe they are submittable publications and that they are being published in an Australian State or Territory. The Director of the Classification Board may also call in films and computer games if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe they are not exempt and that they are being published in an Australian State or Territory |
Censorship Ministers |
Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for classification; meetings are held in conjunction with SCLJ previously SCAG |
Classification Act |
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth) |
Classification Board |
Statutory body established under the Classification Act. The Classification Board classifies computer games, films and certain publications |
Classification Board member |
A statutory appointee to the Classification Board established under the Classification Act |
Classification Branch |
The Classification Branch of the Attorney-General’s Department. The Classification Branch officers provide administrative support to the Classification Board and Review Board |
Classification guidelines |
Guidelines on the application of the National Classification Code, approved by Ministers with responsibility for classification. There are the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games and the Guidelines for the Classification of Publications |
Classification Review Board |
Statutory body established under the Classification Act. The Review Board is a part-time statutory body convened, as required, to review decisions made by the Board |
Classification Review Board member |
Statutory appointee to the Review Board under the Classification Act |
COBRA |
Classification Operations Branch Records Administration (COBRA) is a classification workflow management system |
Classification Liaison Scheme (CLS) |
A scheme that assists retailers and distributors of publications, films and computer games to comply with their legal obligations under the national classification scheme |
Code, the |
The National Classification Code |
Computer games classifications G PG M MA 15+ RC |
General Parental guidance recommended Recommended for mature audiences Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian Refused Classification |
Consumer advice |
The Classification Board and Review Board determine consumer advice for films, computer games and certain publications. Films classified PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+ and X 18+, and computer games classified PG, M and MA 15+, must be assigned consumer advice. Consumer advice gives the principal elements that contributed to the classification of the product and indicates the intensity and/or frequency of those elements. The Classification Board and the Review Board may also provide consumer advice to films and computer games classified G, and publications classified Unrestricted |
Convenor |
Member of the Review Board who is responsible for the management of the Review Board’s business |
Customs |
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service |
Deputy Convenor |
Member of the Review Board who may exercise some of the Convenor’s powers in the Convenor’s absence |
Deputy Director |
Full-time member of the Classification Board who may exercise some of the Director’s powers in the Director’s absence |
Determined markings |
Classification symbols, descriptions and consumer advice lines, as set out in the Classifications (Markings for Publications) Determination 2007, the Classification (Markings for Films and Computer Games) Determination 2007, and the Classification (Markings for Certified Exempt Films and Computer Games) Determination 2007 |
Director |
Full-time member of the Classification Board responsible for the management of the Classification Board |
Exemptions to show an unclassified film at an event |
An organisation may apply to the Director of the Classification Board for exemption from State and Territory classification enforcement legislation to screen an unclassified film at an event. A person may also apply for an exemption |
Exempt computer game |
A computer game exempt from classification requirements as defined by section 5B of the Classification Act |
Exempt film |
A film exempt from classification requirements as defined by section 5B of the Classification Act |
Fee waiver |
The waiving of classification application fees by the Director in specific circumstances, as provided by the Classification Act |
Film Classifications G PG M MA 15+ R 18+ X 18+ RC |
General Parental guidance recommended Recommended for mature audiences Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian Restricted to 18 years and over Restricted to 18 years and over Refused Classification |
FMA Act |
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) |
FOI Act |
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) |
FOI |
Freedom of information |
Guidelines |
Legislative instruments which provide direction on the application of the National Classification Code, approved by Ministers with responsibility for classification. Separate guidelines exist for the classification of films and computer games and publications |
IMAX |
Large format film (70mm) |
Industry assessors |
Persons authorised by the Director to make recommendations to the Classification Board on the classification and consumer advice for: - computer games that are likely to be classified G, PG or M; or
- additional content accompanying previously classified or exempt film/s on DVD or other media storage devices; or
- certain television series released on DVD or other media storage devices.
There are also industry assessors who are authorised to assess the likely classification of unclassified films and/or computer games for advertising purposes |
National Classification Scheme |
A cooperative Commonwealth, State and Territory regulatory scheme for classification of films, computer games and certain publications |
National Classification Code (the Code) |
A code that sets out how films, computer games and certain publications are to be classified |
Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) |
Former Commonwealth agency in the Attorney-General’s portfolio that provided administrative support to the Classification Board and the Classification Review Board |
Prohibited Exports Regulations |
Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 (Cth) |
Prohibited Imports Regulations |
Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 made under section 50 of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth); Regulation 4A relates to the importation of publications (including films and computer games and other goods) |
Prohibited material areas |
An area in the Northern Territory in relation to which a determination under subsection 100A (1) of the Classification Act is in force. |
PS Vita |
The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) hand held computer game console |
Publications classifications Unrestricted Category 1 restricted Category 2 restricted RC |
Unrestricted Not available to persons under 18 years Not available to persons under 18 years Refused Classification |
SCAG (Censorship) |
Standing Committee of Attorneys-General
Committee comprising Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for classification. In most jurisdictions this is the Attorney-General, except in the Commonwealth where the Minister is the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice (SCAG renamed Standing Council of Law and Justice) |
SCLJ |
Standing Council on Law and Justice
Committee comprising Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for classification. In most jurisdictions this is the Attorney-General, except in the Commonwealth where the Minister is the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice. On 17 September 2011, SCLJ came into being replacing SCAG |
Senior Classifier |
Full-time senior member of the Classification Board |
Serial classification declaration |
A declaration issued by the Classification Board on the classification and any conditions that apply to issues of a periodical for a specified period |
Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) |
Committee comprising the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth, States and Territories (renamed Standing Council of Law and Justice) |
Standing Council on Law and Justice (SCLJ) |
Committee comprising the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth, States and Territories, prior to 17 September 2011 known as Standing Committee of Attorneys-General |
Submittable publication |
An unclassified publication that is unsuitable for a minor to see or read, and likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult to the extent that the publication should not be sold or displayed as an unrestricted publication |