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Introduction
Sexually explicit ("X-rated") videos cannot be sold or rented in any Australian
state. This is stupid because:
- Possession is lawful in the states.
- They are available by mail order from Canberra.
- They can be sold and rented in Canberra and the Northern Territory.
- It is lawful to sell or rent them in New Zealand, the United Kingdom,
Canada, the United States, France, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries
(except Norway, where they appear to be merely tolerated), to name a few. I
would say all of Europe, but it is such a non-issue (i.e. little or no
censorship of consenting-adult activities) that it is hard to get information.
Canada is now much more liberal than Australia. Even the situation in the
United Kingdom, the most censored country in Europe, has liberalised since the
British Board of Film Classification lost a court case in 2000 and was forced
to introduce an "R18" rating for sexually explicit videos.
- Video material which would be classified "X" or even refused classification
is accessible on the web in vast quantities. Under these circumstances it is
nonsense to ban the sale of videos.
Permitting the sale of sexually explicit ("X-rated") videos would be a small
change from the current regime, and would bring the Australian states closer
into line with the NT, ACT, and other Western liberal democracies.
Because of the narrowing of the classification guidelines in 2000, much
consensual adult activity (including many harmless fetishes) has been banned
from even the "X" category. The classification guidelines must be reviewed to
protect the right of adults to see, read, and hear what they wish.
The only content which should be prohibited is that which is the product of
actual harm. The right to freedom of expression does not permit the deprivation
of the rights of others.
http://wintersun.org/censorship/video.html
Last modified by
Ben Caradoc-Davies
on 28 July 2004.