David Marr and the Henson Case – East Coast Talks
David Marr is touring the east coast of Aus to discuss the Bill Henson controversy and his new book The Henson Case. He’ll be in Brisbane on Wednesday the 8th of October, in Melbourne Thursday the 9th of October, and Sydney Monday the 13th. Full details below. Marr’s new book ‘examines the pornography/art debate with...
No opt-out from ISP filtering: Two black lists and you can only opt-out from one
This is as close we have come to confirming early information that no Australian will be able to completely opt-out of the Government’s clean feed. Mark Newton, who works for one of Australia’s largest ISPs Internode, writes on Whirlpool that there will be two black lists: One list that contains content that is unsuitable for...
ABC apologises for Q&A game classification mistake
The ABC has apologised for the ‘misleading’ information that Tony Jones provided in the now famous ‘games’ episode of Q&A this year. Jones said that there is no rating system for video games in Australia. ABC investigations officer Claire Gorman said: ‘The ABC apologises for the information provided by presenter Tony Jones in the middle...
Mobile filtering: ISPs choose technology, Gov set minimum level?
Hoping to ease concerns mobile service providers have about mandatory ISP filtering, a spokesperson for Senator Conroy said the Government does not anticipate prescribing what technologies can and can’t be used to filter Internet access, ‘rather it is anticipated that a minimum level will be set and ISPs required to meet it.‘ Australian IT writes:...
Outrage over Cocaine energy drink, Jim Beam chips
Firstly, the Queensland Consumer Association is enraged that an energy drink called Cocaine will soon be available in Australia (it’s already in stores in the US and Britain). The association’s state secretary Max Howard said calling a drink Cocaine is just wrong and trivialising an illicit drug is unethical. He’ll seek advice from the Australian...
Australian Customs seize adult Brady Bunch spoof
When it comes to videos being seized by Australian Customs, Refused-Classification remains the best source of information (if not the only). This week they write that Not the Bradys XXX and Learning the Ropes #1: Male Submissive have both been confiscated by the ACS: ‘…We can inform you that Will Ryder’s hardcore BRADY BUNCH spoof...
Latest Silent Hill game banned for high impact violence
Silent Hill: Homecoming, the latest game in the survival horror franchise from Konami, has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board. The local distributor of the game, Atari, told GameSpot that the ACB found issue with the high impact of Silent Hill’s violence. Examples used by the board in its report include copious blood...
Intergalactic Censorship Patrol – Comics, Uncle Sam and Aunty Sarah
I come across heaps of great censorship related websites and blogs each day, but I don’t post about them because they aren’t about Australian issues or because I don’t have time. 99% of the time it’s the latter. So instead of keeping them to myself, I’ve decided the best thing to do is share them...
Van Heusen underwear ad banned: Too racy for Brisbane buses
Details are sketchy, but this advertisement for fashion label Van Heusen will not be allowed to run on the rear of Brisbane City Council buses. It’s been deemed too racy. Even us precious Brisbane folk can tolerate some clothed ass. Anyone in the CBD passes giant posters of scantily clad women daily when we walk...
Anti-gay bumper sticker: Free speech, hate speech?
The ugly side of free speech: This sticker was stuck on a car driven by Ron Owen, a gun lobbyist and publisher of ‘pro-militia’ magazine Lock Stock & Barrel. Understandably, lesbians from Gympie weren’t too pleased when they saw it so they took Owen to Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. The Tribunal found Owen guilty of inciting...
New Zealand OFLC teaching kids how to censor
New Zealand’s Office of Film & Literature Classification is teaching school students the fine art of classification and censorship. Michelle Baker from the OFLC said their Censor For A Day program is an opportunity for students to learn how censorship really worked and to apply it to future films. Bay Of Plenty Times writes: Around...
Michael Atkinston sixth most hated person
South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has landed himself spot number six in Zoo Weekly’s annual Top 50 People We Hate List. I wonder why. Atkinson outranked accused child sex offender Dennis Ferguson, Toadie from Neighbours, and Corey Worthington. Good effort.
