Lexi Webster
Australia is a large country that is highly rated globally, ranking 5th in the US News Best Countries rankings. It has a parliamentary democracy government and is a member of major international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The country has a robust classification system for films, television programmes, video games, and publications, with the Australian Classification Board (ACB) responsible for censorship and classification. This system helps consumers make informed choices and ensures that age-restricted content is not accessible to minors. Australia also has a diverse culture influenced by immigration from Asia and other non-English-speaking countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australia's rank in the US News Best Countries | 5 |
| Organisations Australia is a member of | The United Nations, the Group of 20, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Commonwealth of Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation |
| Australian Classification Board's responsibility | Classification and censorship of films, television programmes, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia |
| Ratings for films, computer games and certain publications | G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), M (Mature), MA 15+, R 18+, X 18+, Refused Classification (RC) |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's rating system for films and games
Australia has a unique rating system for films and games, which helps people make informed choices about what they watch and play. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is responsible for this classification and censorship. The ratings are not legally binding, except for the MA 15+ and R 18+ categories.
G (General)
The G rating is suitable for everyone. However, these films and games may contain content that may scare or disturb very young children.
PG (Parental Guidance)
The PG rating suggests that parents should decide whether the content is suitable for their children. Such films and games may contain material that children find confusing or upsetting, including mild violence and themes that require a mature outlook.
M (Mature)
The M rating is for viewers and players aged 15 and above. This category may include content such as sex and drug use, which could be confusing or upsetting for younger audiences.
MA 15+ (Mature Accompanied)
This is the first legally restricted category. MA 15+ films and games may contain strong impact content, such as sex scenes and drug use. People may be asked to show proof of age when purchasing or viewing MA 15+ content.
R 18+ (Restricted)
The R 18+ category is restricted to adults aged 18 and over. This rating was introduced for video games in 2013.
X 18+
X 18+ films are banned from being sold or rented in most Australian states and are only legally available in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. However, importing X 18+ content from these territories into other states is permitted.
Refused Classification (RC)
RC refers to films, games, and publications that cannot be sold, hired, advertised, or legally imported into Australia.
The ACB also provides consumer advice, which appears alongside the classification symbol. This provides information about the most impactful content, including themes, violence, language, drug use, nudity, and sex.
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The Australian Classification Board
The ACB was established in 1917 as the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board. In 1988, it was incorporated into the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) until the OFLC's dissolution in 2005. Following legislative changes enacted in the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995, it became known as the Classification Board. From 2006 until 2020, the Department of Communications and the Arts provided administrative support to the ACB, after which it was merged into the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications.
The ACB classification system has several levels of "restricted" categories, prohibiting the sale, exhibition, or use of some materials to those under a prescribed age. There are six classifiable elements for films: themes (e.g. rape, suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity. Consumer advice appears with the classification symbol on products, packaging, and advertisements. It provides information about the most impactful content in a film or video game, such as violence, drug use, and sex scenes.
The ratings are advisory categories, and there are no legal restrictions for viewing or playing films and games with these ratings. Films and games rated G (General) are suitable for everyone but may contain content that may scare very young children. PG (Parental Guidance) films and games may contain content that may confuse or upset children under 15, who are recommended to view this content with a parent or guardian. The M (Mature) rating is not recommended for children under 15 and allows for multiple uses of the word "fk". MA 15+ content is legally restricted to people aged 15 and over and can contain sex scenes and drug use. R 18+ content is legally restricted to adults 18 and over.
The ACB also introduced a category for video games related to microtransactions, with any game including them requiring a listing of in-game purchases. Additionally, the ACB classifies material submitted by the police, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates television.
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Ratings for publications
Australia has a diverse range of publications, including newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets. The Australian government has implemented a classification system for publications to ensure readers can make informed choices and to protect minors from inappropriate content. This classification system is outlined on the Australian Classification website and includes the following ratings:
Unrestricted Publications (Mature [M])
Publications with this rating contain content not recommended for children under 15. While they are available to everyone, retailers are advised to request proof of age before sale. This category typically includes publications with mild themes or content that may require parental guidance, such as mild violence or coarse language.
Category 1 Restricted and Category 2 Restricted
These categories are restricted to adults only and include publications that contain content that may offend certain sections of the adult community. This includes explicit sexual content, nudity, and detailed descriptions or depictions of sexual activity. Publications in these categories must be distributed in sealed wrappers and displayed only in adult-restricted premises.
Refused Classification (RC)
This category includes publications that cannot be sold, hired, advertised, or legally imported into Australia. They may contain content that is prohibited by law or deemed unacceptable by the Australian community. This could include extremely violent or offensive material.
Additionally, Australia has a range of popular newspapers, including the country's most-read, the Sydney Morning Herald, which has over eight million readers as of 2021. Other widely circulated newspapers include The Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun, and The Australian. Local and community newspapers are often distributed for free and cover specific regions or communities.
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Legally restricted categories
In Australia, films, computer games, and certain publications must be classified before they can be made available to the public. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the government body responsible for this classification and censorship. While the ACB does not directly censor material, it can refuse classification, thereby making it illegal for the material to be hired, exhibited, imported, sold, or advertised in 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. These classifications are legally restricted, indicated by a black banner at the bottom of the classification label. It is illegal to sell or exhibit material with these classifications to anyone younger than the stated minimum age.
The following are the legally restricted categories:
- MA 15+: Restricted to people aged 15 and over. May contain content such as 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 or viewing. A parent or adult guardian must accompany a person under 15 for the duration of the film or game.
- R 18+: Restricted to adults 18 years and over. The R 18+ classification was first applied to video games in 2013.
- Category 1 Restricted and Category 2 Restricted: Can only be sold to adults. They contain content that may offend some adults, such as nudity or explicit sexual content. These publications must be distributed in sealed wrappers with covers suitable for public display and can only be displayed for sale in adult-restricted premises.
- Refused Classification (RC): Films, computer games, and publications with this classification cannot be sold, hired, advertised, or legally imported into Australia. They may contain content that is objectionable or prohibited for import or export.
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Refused Classification (RC)
In Australia, films, video games, and publications must be classified before they can be sold, hired, or exhibited. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the government body responsible for this classification and censorship. While the ACB does not directly censor material, it can effectively censor it by refusing classification, thereby making it illegal for the material to be hired, exhibited, or imported into Australia. This is known as "Refused Classification" or "RC".
RC-rated material cannot be sold, hired, advertised, or legally imported into Australia. It is also filtered out of public search results on the Australian Classification website. While it is legal to possess RC-rated material in most states and territories, there are exceptions. For example, in Queensland, it is illegal to possess RC-rated material with the intention of selling or exhibiting it publicly. In Victoria, while it is legal to possess RC-rated material, selling or demonstrating it in a public place is a felony. In the Australian Capital Territory, it is illegal to possess or copy RC-rated material with the intention of selling or demonstrating it.
The ACB uses six classifiable elements to determine a film or video game's classification: themes (e.g., rape, suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity. The context of the film or game is also crucial in determining whether a classifiable element is justified by the storyline or themes. The ACB indicates these elements to consumers to help them make informed choices about the media they consume.
Since 2016, several Japanese games have received RC ratings in Australia, including MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH, VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI, and HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT. Manga and anime have also faced issues with the ACB, with several titles refused classification. Additionally, some films have been refused classification and later awarded an R 18+ rating on appeal, such as the French film "Romance" and the Australian film "Ninja Scroll."
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Frequently asked questions
The ACB is a government statutory body that classifies and censors media for public exhibition, sale or hire in Australia.
The ratings include G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), M (Mature), MA 15+ (restricted to people aged 15 and over), R 18+ (restricted to adults 18 and over), and X 18+ (cannot be exhibited publicly). There are also restricted categories for publications containing explicit content, and Refused Classification (RC) for media that is banned in Australia.
The six classifiable elements are themes (e.g. suicide, racism), violence, sex, language, drug use, and nudity. Consumer advice provides information about these elements to help consumers make informed choices.
The ACB classifies films, computer games, and publications. Live performances, audio CDs, and television shows are not classified by the ACB. Television is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Australia ranks highly in various categories, including quality of life, entrepreneurship, and cultural influence. In the U.S. News Best Countries rankings, it is ranked 5th overall.
