Complaints about Films

Often the word 'censorship' is applied to this process, especially by those who oppose any and all censorship. We believe that a conservative classification and censorship process is vital in order to protect children and to protect society in general.

In Australia, films and computer games are classified by the Classification Board.
Literature is also classified by them - under a different set of Guidelines for the Classification of Publications.

If the classification decision relating to a film is reviewed then that is conducted by the Classification Review Board.

All the relevant information is on the Classification in Australia website.

This was formerly known as the 'Office of Film and Literature Classification' - the name was changed in 2007.
The Annual Report 2006-2007 says:

"The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) provided administrative support to both Boards throughout 2006-07. The OFLC was integrated into the Attorney-General's Department on 1 July 2007 and is now known as the Classification Operations Branch. The Classification Board and Classification Review Board continue to operate independently."

The Classification Board uses Guidelines to classify films and computer games. [The Classification Board is also responsible for classifying 'literature' but these use a different set of Guidelines.]

These Guidelines are set by the government and are reviewed regularly. They are supposed to be based on 'community standards'.

Films and computer games are rated are rated G, PG, M, MA, MA15+, R18+ and X18+.

Films that do not meet the guidelines are Refused Classification (RC).

Computer games are not allowed if they would have been rated R18+.
However, some groups are actively campaigning to allow R18+ computer games to be sold in Australia - we oppose this move. It would be impossible to ensure that children under 18 did not have access to them and the interactive nature of the games means they impact the player adversely.

The Guidelines

The current Classification guidelines for films and computer games are available on the Classification Board's website.

They are also on the Commonwealth government's Com Law website:

Guidelines for the Classification of Film and Computer Guidelines - click here.

Guidelines for the Classification of Publications - click here.

Making a complaint
If you wish to make a complaint about a film, or object to the given classification of a film (especially one that has just been given a classification by the Board) contact the Classification Board.

This is especially important if you believe the film has breached the guidelines for a particular classification. Films such as Baise-Moi, Intimacy, Lolita, Irreversible and Anatomy of Hell have been subject to many complaints for this reason.

Finding out a film's classification
You can also check the Classification Board's database to see if a film has been classified and check its classification.

Contact details:
Head Office - Sydney
23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010
Postal Address: Locked Bag 3, HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Telephone (02) 9289 7100     Facsimile (02) 9289 7101
You can also contact them by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can ALSO write to federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland if you think the classification guidelines have been breached or on policy matters relating to classification issues..
Write to him at Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600.

Complaints about the classification of Baise Moi (April 2002AD) led to the then Attorney-General (Daryl Williams) calling for a review of the classification of the film.

2001 Review of Guidelines:

In 2001 the then Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) held a review of the film and computer game Guidelines. They issued a draft, asked for submissions from the public and approved a new set of Guidelines. One change that resulted is that a single set of Guidelines applies to films and computer games.

The submissions were analysed by Dr Jeffery Brand, Associate Professor of Communication and Media at Bond University Queensland.

The new Guidelines were implemented in 2003. The OFLC conducted a 'Review' of the new Guidelines in the first half of 2004.