National Classification Code (May 2005) (Cth)

National Classification Code

as amended

made under section 6 of the

Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995

This compilation was prepared on 1 January 2013 taking into account amendments up to National Classification Code Amendment Notice 2012 (No. 1)

Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra National Classification Code

1. Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the following principles: (a) adults should be able to read, hear, see and play what they want; (b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them; (c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive; (d) the need to take account of community concerns about: (i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and (ii) 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: RC (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence 2 Publications (except RC publications) that: Category 2 restricted (a) explicitly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or (b) 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 3 Publications (except RC publications and Category 2 restricted publications) that: Category 1 restricted (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) are unsuitable for a minor to see or read 4 All other publications Unrestricted