BP and Shell service stations will drop pornographic Category 1 magazines from their stores after a successful campaign to have them removed by Kids Free 2 B Kids and Australian Women’s Forum. According to Refused-Classification.com, Kids Free 2 B Kids issued a press release in September accusing the petrol giants of selling material condoning rape, incest and child sex abuse. Some pretty serious allegations.

Of course, material directly condoning such heinous acts would never pass ACB muster — the classified magazines referred to were almost certainly run of the mill porn mags featuring models of legal age. BP and Shell’s decision to remove these mags is a result of a knee jerk company policy, not government or law enforcement intervention.

Here’s a quick run down of what happened:

  • Kids Free 2 B Kids Director, Julie Gale, says magazines approved for sale encourage the sexual penetration of under-age girls and some of the video/dvd advertisements validate crimes such as incest and rape. Gale says the young women are often posed in pigtails, plaits, school uniform, pink headbands and with soft cuddly toys. Milk bars, convenience stores and petrol stations  selling magazines are targeted.
  • Barnaby Joyce takes Kids Free 2 B Kids claims to Senate Estimates in October (documented here on STotC and at R-C.com). He expresses concern that pornography available in petrol stations and corner stores is encouraging paedophilia. He also has a problem with the use of ‘innocent-looking babes’ and wants to know when it will be stopped.
  • November 20, BP decides to remove all ‘R-Rated materials’ from company owned and operated stores. BP says the decision was taken on the basis that they were not comfortable with the titles of some of the range, nor did they feel the material was consistent with company values.
  • November 26, Shell/Coles Express follow suit removing Category 1 magazines nationwide. Julie Gale says ‘The Federal classification system and its State and Territory enforcement arms need an overhaul. They are not working.’

Those associated with Kids Free 2B Kids include Young Media Australia (support) and Dr Clive Hamilton (unspecified).