Lexi Webster
Australia's film classification system has undergone several changes since the introduction of the R-rating in 1970. The R-rating was designed to prevent the outright banning of films, allowing only adults to view films with content deemed unsuitable for children. Over the years, additional classifications were introduced, such as the MA 15+ rating, which restricts content to those aged 15 and above, and the X 18+ rating, indicating sexually explicit or extremely violent content. Australia's classification system continues to evolve, with the Australian Classification Board and Classification Review Board responsible for classifying all films and games released for public exhibition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| R-rated movies in Australia | Equivalent to NC-17 in the US |
| Banned in South Australia | |
| Treated like pornography | |
| Cannot be advertised or displayed alongside other movies | |
| Must be sold in a separate room or covered with non-descript packaging | |
| Cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported if refused classification | |
| Must be distributed in a sealed wrapper with a cover suitable for public display | |
| Can contain content that may offend some sections of the adult community | |
| Can contain explicit sexual content and sexualised nudity | |
| Can contain themes such as suicide, racism, violence, sex, drug use, and coarse language | |
| Can be classified as R 18+ |
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![Rated R [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zlinuxiFL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
MA15+ is like the US R rating
Australia has a unique classification system for films, computer games, and certain publications, which must be classified before they are made available in the country. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a government statutory body responsible for the classification and censorship of these media forms.
The ACB does not directly censor material but can effectively do so by refusing classification, making the media illegal for hire, exhibition, or importation to Australia. The classification system has several levels of "restricted" categories, prohibiting the sale, exhibition, or use of some materials to those under a prescribed age.
The MA15+ rating in Australia is comparable to the US R rating. MA15+ content is legally restricted to people aged 15 and over and can contain sex scenes and drug use that may have a strong impact on the viewer. A person may be asked to show proof of age before purchasing, hiring, or viewing an MA15+ film or game. A parent or adult guardian must accompany a person under 15 for the duration of the film in a cinema or be with them to purchase an MA15+ film or game.
The US R rating also restricts viewers under 17 from watching certain films without adult accompaniment. While there are some differences in the specific age restrictions, both the MA15+ and R ratings serve a similar purpose in their respective countries, ensuring that mature content is only accessible to older audiences.
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The ACB does not directly censor material
In Australia, films, computer games, and certain publications must be classified before being released to the public. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the government body responsible for the classification and censorship of these materials. While the ACB does have the power to censor, it does not directly censor material by ordering cuts or changes. Instead, it can effectively censor media by refusing classification, thereby making it illegal for hire, exhibition, or importation into Australia. This is known as the "Refused Classification" (RC) category.
The ACB's classification system has several levels of "restricted" categories, which prohibit the sale, exhibition, or use of certain materials to those under a prescribed age. For example, the MA 15+ rating restricts content to individuals aged 15 and over and may include sex scenes and drug use. The ACB also has an adults-only R 18+ classification for video games, which was introduced in 2013. It is important to note that the ACB's decisions can be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.
The ACB's classification process considers six elements for films: themes (e.g., rape, suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity. Consumer advice is provided along with the classification symbol to inform individuals about the content. In 2020, the ACB added a category for video games related to microtransactions, requiring any game with in-game purchases to list them. Additionally, the ACB classifies material submitted by authorities like the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
While the ACB does not directly censor by ordering changes, its refusal to classify certain materials can effectively prevent their distribution and access within Australia. This power of the ACB highlights the importance of understanding the country's classification system and the potential impact on the availability of certain films, games, and publications.
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R-rated movies are treated like porn
In Australia, films, computer games, and certain publications must be classified before they can be made available to the public. The Australian classification system includes ratings such as G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), M (Mature), and MA 15+ (restricted to people aged 15 and over). The MA 15+ rating is comparable to the R rating in the US, which allows teenagers under 17 to watch with adult accompaniment.
In 2010, South Australia passed a law that treated R-rated movies like pornography. This meant that R-rated films could not be displayed alongside other films in video stores or theatres. For example, a video store could not place an R-rated movie on the shelf next to a PG-13 movie. Similarly, theatres were prohibited from showing trailers, posters, or advertisements for R-rated films. While this law did not technically ban R-rated movies, it significantly impacted their accessibility and visibility to the public.
The Australian classification system has been criticised for its strict regulations and censorship. Some view it as overly restrictive, particularly when compared to the US system, which allows for more mature content to be accessible to younger audiences with parental guidance. The Australian system has been accused of being overly protective, claiming to safeguard children from inappropriate content while simultaneously restricting the freedom of adults to access R-rated content.
However, it is important to note that the Australian classification system aims to provide informed choices for consumers regarding the type of content they watch or play. The R-rating in Australia is equivalent to the NC-17 rating in the US, indicating that the content is suitable only for adults. Films with this rating may contain explicit sexual content, nudity, drug use, or intense themes that may offend sections of the adult community.
While the Australian classification system may be more conservative than that of the US, it is designed to protect the public, particularly children, from exposure to potentially harmful or offensive content. The system empowers parents and guardians to make informed decisions about the media their children consume and ensures that adults are aware of the nature of the content they choose to access. Legally, individuals in Australia can still access RC-rated material via the internet or through personal ownership, except in certain areas with specific restrictions.
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R-rated movies can be sold and screened
In Australia, R-rated movies can be sold and screened, but they are subject to certain restrictions. Firstly, it is important to note that the classification system in Australia is different from that of other countries, such as the United States. In Australia, the Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the government body responsible for classifying and censoring films, video games, and publications.
The ACB has a separate classification system for computer and video games, which was introduced in 1994. This system has distinct and stricter guidelines, as there was concern that interactive content may have a greater impact on young people. While R-rated movies can be sold and screened in Australia, they fall under the legally restricted categories, which means there are legal restrictions on accessing them. These films are prohibited from being sold or exhibited to individuals below the prescribed age, which is typically 18 years or older for R-rated content.
R-rated movies are often placed in separate sections or rooms in video stores and cinemas, away from lower-rated films. They may have restricted advertising and promotional materials, such as trailers, posters, and displays. These restrictions aim to prevent R-rated content from being exhibited alongside more general audience-friendly content. Additionally, R-rated films must be distributed in sealed wrappers with suitable covers for public display.
The ACB does not directly censor R-rated movies by ordering cuts or changes. However, they can effectively censor them by refusing classification, making the media illegal for hire, exhibition, or importation into Australia. While R-rated movies can be sold and screened in Australia, they are subject to these restrictions to control their accessibility and exposure to the public, particularly to individuals below the prescribed age limit.
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R18+ films can offend some adults
In Australia, films and games with an R 18+ rating are restricted to adults as they contain content that may offend some adults. This includes high-impact content such as explicit sexual activity, strong themes, violence, language, drug use, and nudity. The R 18+ rating was introduced in 1982 in response to the recommendations of the Home Office Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship.
The Australian Classification system is different from the American system. In the US, "R" means under 17s need to be accompanied by an adult, whereas in Australia, MA 15+ is the equivalent of "R" in the US, with R 18+ being equivalent to NC-17. MA 15+ films can contain sex scenes and drug use and are legally restricted to people aged 15 and over. A parent or adult guardian must purchase a ticket and accompany anyone under 15 for the duration of the film in a cinema.
The R 18+ rating in Australia is one of the seven classification categories of the Australian film rating system and one of six for the computer game system of the Australian Classification Board. It was one of the original four classification categories when the Board was established. The symbol is the letter R enclosed in a diamond and is coloured black. R 18+ films can only be shown in licensed cinemas and sold in licensed sex shops.
The R 18+ rating is the most restrictive of the certificates, and films in this category are only exhibited in specially licensed cinemas. According to the Classification Enforcement Act 1993, parents or guardians are legally allowed to exhibit an R 18+ film in the presence of a minor. However, it is an offence to do so if the person exhibiting is unrelated to the minor.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian rating system for films is advisory, with no legal restrictions for viewing films with certain ratings. The ratings are G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), M (Mature—not recommended for under 15s), and MA 15+ (restricted to people aged 15 and over). Films classified as Category 1 Restricted and Category 2 Restricted can only be sold to adults and must be displayed and distributed in a sealed wrapper.
The R rating in Australia is equivalent to the NC-17 rating in the US. The R rating is an adults-only classification that was first applied to video games in 2013.
The ACB is an Australian government statutory body responsible for the classification and censorship of films, television programmes, video games, and publications. The ACB does not directly censor material but can effectively do so by refusing classification, making the media illegal for hire, exhibition, and importation to Australia.
The six classifiable elements for films in Australia are themes (e.g. rape, suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity.
