Can a dead Lenny Bruce offend Sydney?
Lenny Bruce’s first Sydney performance in September 1962 didn’t go down well. Arrested after he got up on stage and declared ‘What a fucking wonderful audience,’ his future gigs at the hotel he was performing were canceled and shows organised for UNSW by soon-to-be editor of Oz Magazine, Richard Neville, were blocked by the Vice-Chancellor....
Peaceful Pill gets all clear in NZ, but not without a fight
Right To Life New Zealand (RTLNZ) and the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards are spitting chips after the Revised International Edition of Dr Philip Nitschke’s Peaceful Pill Handbook was approved by the countries OFLC providing it only be sold sealed to those over the age of eighteen. The original edition of the book...
Smoking on screen: Banned, R-rated?
Simon Chapman, a Professor in Public Health at the University of Sydney who specialises in tobacco control, warns that many of his colleagues in the health profession are seeking to have smoking in films either banned or classified R18+. He writes in Crikey: ‘The Australian Medical Association now suggests that state and federal government funding...
Art Censorship Public Forum, Sydney June 12
Sydneysiders take note. A public forum called Art Censorship: the Bigger Picture will be held on 12th June at the Museum of Contemporary Art. In the interests of stimulating some informed and thoughtful public debate, a group of highly respected speakers will take a measured look at the topic in light of the furore surrounding...
Henson’s artwork classified PG, Hetty hits the roof
It’s been a long day (work), so let’s make it quick: The controversial Bill Henson photograph that featured on an invitation to his exhibition has been rated PG by the Classification Board. David Marr writes that while a minority of the classification board thought the impact of the picture was moderate, none of the classifiers...
Beer Dwarf gets a visit from the Fun Police
This little man (or man of below average height) is causing big outrage. Alcohol ‘education’ groups and Government bureaucrats are up in arms over a dwarf pouring free alcohol into the mouths of bar patrons. They say it’s an offensive example of our binge drinking culture, but readers of News.com.au want the fun police to...
Channel Seven’s All Saints angers Down Syndrome groups
Down Syndrome families and advocacy groups are outraged that Channel 7 hospital drama All Saints insinuated the child of a fictional brother and sister involved in an incestuous relationship would likely have Down Syndrome. Apologies are now being demanded and Down Syndrome Australia is lobbying major advertisers to boycott the show. Legal action hasn’t been...
Henson – News website photos G-rated
Quicky post: The Classification Board has determined that five photographs by Bill Henson that were published on news websites a little over a week ago are G-rated. These are the same photos Mr Rudd decried as ‘absolutely revolting.’ Update 6:36PM: Artist protests Henson’s treatment with similar work.
Fast broadband network will increase bad behaviour: Conroy
Senator Conroy may not be Santa Claus, but he knows when you’ve been bad! According to our favourite babysitter in Canberra, his planned national broadband network will mean we’ll see an increase in cyber-bullying and other bad behaviour online: “With the development and roll-out of Labor’s national broadband scheme, we expect that there will be...
Police investigate Henson pics at Parliament House
Cops have investigated a Henson triptych of a building’s exterior which hangs in a minister’s office at Parliament House. Those dirty, obscene building exteriors. Department of Parliamentary Services, Alan Thompson, told the media “Our general impression is they simply had a list of places that might have Bill Henson works.” Good use of police resources,...
Censors investigate websites using Henson photographs
The Classification Board is investigating news media websites who published photographs taken by Bill Henson. The case was referred to them by the ACMA, but it’s unknown whether a complaint was made by a member of the public (maybe a revolted PM?) or the ACMA took it upon themselves. So on one hand you’ve got...
