Annual reports 2011 12 appendices

Appendices

Appendix One: Classification Board statistics
Appendix Two: National Classification Code
Glossary

Appendix One: Classification Board Statistics

**Table 21: Decisions by format/source**
Decisions on Commercial applications	Decisions
Film (public exhibition)	510
Film (not for public exhibition)	2,325
Film (not for public exhibition) – ACA	245
Film (not for public exhibition) – ATSA	524
Computer games	827
Publications	198
Serial publication declarations	59
Assessment of likely classification – film	19
Assessment of likely classification – computer games	>2
Other decisions
Internet content	913
Enforcement (including Australian Customs and Border Protection Service)	136
Film festival exemptions	474
Fee waiver applications	28
Revocations of classification	3
Total	6,263

**Table 22: Applications received by format/source**
	Applications received
Film (public exhibition)	508
Commercial applications
Film (not for public exhibition)	2,353
Film (not for public exhibition) – ACA	238
Film (not for public exhibition) – ATSA	524
Computer games	857
Publications (excluding serial publications)	195
Serial publication declarations	53
Assessment of likely classification – film	20
Assessment of likely classification – computer games	2
Other applications
Internet content	866
Enforcement (including Australian Customs and Border Protection Service)	121
Film festival exemptions	475
Fee waiver applications	19
Total	6,231

**Table 23: Timeliness of decisions on commercial applications by application type**
Application type	Decisions made within statutory time limit	Standard applications over 20 business days	Priority applications over 5 business days
Film (public exhibition)	510	0	0
Film (not for public exhibition)	2,325	0	0
Film (not for public exhibition) – ACA	245	0	0
Film (not for public exhibition) – ATSA	524	0	0
Computer games	827	0	0
Publications (including serial declarations)	257	0	0
Assessment of likely classification – film	19	0	0
Assessment of Likely Classification – computer games	2	0	0
Internet content	913	0	0
Total	5,622	0	0
% of total	100	0	0

**Table 24: Overdue applications by reason for delay**
Reason	Number
Workflow delay	0
Administrative error	0
Total	0

**Table 25: Commercial (single issue) publications decisions by classification**
Classification	Classification decisions
Unrestricted	65
Category 1 restricted	111
Category 2 restricted	22
RC	0
Total	198

**Table 26: Commercial (single issue) publications applications refused classification by reason**
Reason⁸	Number
Publications RC 1(a)	0
Publications RC 1(b)	0
Publications RC 1(c)	0
Publications RC 1(a) & 1(b)	0
Total	0

**Table 27: Serial classification declarations granted by classification**
Classification	Declarations granted
Unrestricted	7
Category 1 restricted	46
Category 2 restricted	6
RC	0
Total	59

**Table 28: Commercial films (public exhibition) decisions by classification**
Classification	Classification decisions
G	54
PG	105
M	215
MA 15+	128
R 18+	8
X 18+	0
RC	0
Total	510

**Table 29: Commercial film (not for public exhibition) decisions by classification**
Classification	Classification decisions
G	516
PG	619
M	889
MA 15+	620
R 18+	85
X 18+	352
RC	13
Total	3,094

**Table 30: Commercial film (not for public exhibition) applications refused classification by reason**
Reason⁹	Number
Films RC 1(a)	11
Films RC 1(b)	0
Films RC 1(c)	0
Films RC 1(a) & 1(b)	2
Total	13

**Table 31: Commercial computer games decisions by classification**
Classification	Classification decisions
G	395
PG	229
M	109
MA 15+	91
RC	3
Total	827

**Table 32: Commercial computer games applications refused classification by reason**
Reason¹⁰	Number
Games RC 1(a)	0
Games RC 1(b)	0
Games RC 1(c)	0
Games RC 1(d)	3
Games RC 1(a) & 1 (b)	0
Total	3

**Table 33: Fee waiver applications granted**
Film (public exhibition)	Fee waivers granted
Full fee waiver	11
50% fee waiver	0
75% fee waiver	0
Fee waiver refused	0
Film (not for public exhibition)
Full fee waiver	17
50% fee waiver	0
75% fee waiver	0
Fee waiver refused	0
Computer game
Full fee waiver	0
50% fee waiver	0
75% fee waiver	0
Fee waiver refused	0
Publication
Full fee waiver	0
50% fee waiver	0
75% fee waiver	0
Fee waiver refused	0
Total	28

**Table 34: Enforcement applications decisions by agency**
Enforcement agency	Publications	Films – other	Section 87 certificates⁶	Total
Australian Federal Police	0	2	1	3
ACT Office of Fair Trading	0	2	16	18
NSW Police	0	27	39	66
NT Police	0	0	0	0
Qld Police & Qld Office of Fair Trading	9	16	27	52
Victoria Police	11	24	36	71
SA Police	0	11	11	22
Tasmania Police	0	0	0	0
WA Police	0	0	0	0
Australian Defence Forces Investigative Services (ADFIS)	0	0	0	0
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service	3	0	2	5
Total	23	82	132	237

**Table 35: Internet content decisions by classification**
Classification	Classification decisions
G	4
PG	6
M	14
MA 15+	28
R 18+	38
X 18+	28
RC	795
Unrestricted	0
Total	913

**Table 36: Internet content refused classification by reason**
Reason¹¹	Number
Film RC 1(a)	33
Film RC 1(b)	0
Film RC 1(c)	2
Film RC 1(d)	0
Film RC 1(a) & 1(b)	756
Film RC 1(a) & 1(c)	4
Section 9A (2) (c)	0
Total	795

Exemptions to show unclassified films

During 2011–12, the Director finalised 475 applications for exemption to publicly exhibit unclassified films at film festivals and special films events. The Director refused an exemption for two films within one of these applications.

Appendix Two: National Classification Code

National Classification Code

1. Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the following principles:

adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want;
minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them;
everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;
the need to take account of community concerns about:
1. depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and
2. the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.

Publications

2. Publications are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item	Description of publication	Classification
1	Publications that: describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence	RC
2	Publications (except RC publications) that: explicitly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or depict, describe or express revolting or abhorrent phenomena in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult and are unsuitable for a minor to see or read	Category 2 restricted
3	Publications (except RC publications and Category 2 restricted publications) that: explicitly depict nudity, or describe or impliedly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or describe or express in detail violence or sexual activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or are unsuitable for a minor to see or read	Category 1 restricted
4	All other publications	Unrestricted

Films

3. Films are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item	Description of film	Classification
1	Films that: depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be , a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence	RC
2	Films (except RC films) that: contain real depictions of actual sexual activity between consenting adults in which there is no violence, sexual violence, sexualised violence, coercion, sexually assaultive language, or fetishes or depictions which purposefully demean anyone involved in that activity for the enjoyment of viewers, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; and are unsuitable for a minor to see	X 18+
3	Films (except RC films and X 18+ films) that are unsuitable for a minor to see	R 18+
4	Films (except RC films, X 18+ films and R 18+ films) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing by persons under 15	MA 15+
5	Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films and MA 15+ films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15	M
6	Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films, MA 15+ films and M films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians	PG
7	All other films	G

Computer Games

4. Computer games are to be classified in accordance with the following table:

Item	Description of film	Classification
1	Computer games that: depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence; or are unsuitable for a minor to see or play	RC
2	Computer games (except RC computer games) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing or playing by persons under 15	MA 15+
3	Computer games (except RC and MA 15+ computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15	M
4	Computer games (except RC, MA 15+ and M computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians	PG
5	All other computer games	G

Glossary

Term/ abbreviation	Explanation
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

⁸ The reason for refusing a film classification refers to the relevant item of the National Classification Code.

⁹ The reason for refusing a film classification refers to the relevant item of the National Classification Code.

¹⁰ The reason for refusing a film classification refers to the relevant item of the National Classification Code.

¹¹ The reason for refusing a film classification refers to the relevant item of the National Classification Code.