Harakiri Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/industry-alarm-at-r-rated-cover-up/story-e6frg6nf-1225819431495FILM distributors are alarmed by new laws that quietly came into effect in South Australia this week restricting the promotion and display of R-rated movies. Adults aged over 18 seeking to buy or borrow a copy of Mad Max, the acclaimed desert war drama Three Kings, starring George Clooney, the Brad Pitt classic Fight Club or the 2009 Blu Ray release of Sasha Baron Cohen's fashion parody Bruno will now find them in plain packaging displaying nothing more than the film's title. The rule will apply to titles for sale or rent unless those titles are quarantined from all other audiovisual materials, in an area signposted with a warning. Under changes to the state's classification act, which came into effect on Sunday, businesses will face fines of up to $5000 for displaying a "poster, pamphlet or other printed material" for films classified R18+. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. The new law applies to general outlets containing films with classifications lower than R18+, and not adult-only premises. Several distributors expressed surprise at the announcement of the law coming into effect, saying they had learned of it only yesterday. Potential Films managing director Mark Spratt, who has distributed numerous R-rated titles, including the contentious French drama Romance, said he was "gobsmacked". "It's gone completely under the radar," Mr Spratt said. Plain packaging would prevent consumers making informed decisions about these films, including critically acclaimed titles such as Taxi Driver and Apocalypse Now, he said. "It's certainly discouraging people to look for these films, discouraging shops from stocking them and (creates) an extra hassle for (distributors)," Mr Spratt said. It also had the potential to harm retailers in South Australia as consumers who wanted to buy the titles with their packaging intact would shop interstate or online. The law was announced by the office of South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, whose conservative campaigning is well known to the film industry. Foyer stands and posters, cinema ads and billboards for R-rated films are unaffected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 This is almost as ridiculous as Ireland's new anti-blasphemy law. :rolleyes: SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerdboyxxx Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 The law was announced by the office of South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, whose conservative campaigning is well known to the film industry. -.- If he keeps this up, he'll have thousands of angry Aussie consumers prepared to firebomb his house... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uldric Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Kind of related to this, they are thinking about bringing out R games in Australia. If you're Australian, fill out the discussion form. http://www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassificationOn topic, Atkinson has poisoned everyone which is a real shame. Get him out of office and this kind of crap will go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 He's officially gone too far this time. Popoto.~<3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevepole Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I can see it from both points of views, but in the end I find it a little ridiculous the measures Australia (I don't know who specifically) goes to censor the media because its not removing it from public view but just limiting its promotion which isn't going to stop people from see it in its entirety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jemathonical Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 That's South Australia for you. ^Sir Jem 05-The Bunny Drinking Blog?^ Click it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 So stupid. Thank god america isnt that dumb yet "Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world."Abraham Lincoln Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 They killed the dingoes! :cry: Dog murderer! SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furah Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Wonder how long before NSW gets this law too. <_< The law was announced by the office of South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, whose conservative campaigning is well known to the film industry. -.- If he keeps this up, he'll have thousands of angry Aussie consumers prepared to firebomb his house...He has nearly every Aussie gamer want him dead, how much worse can it get for him? Steam | PM me for BBM PIN Nine naked men is a technological achievement. Quote of 2013. PCGamingWiki - Let's fix PC gaming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Wonder how long before NSW gets this law too. <_< The law was announced by the office of South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, whose conservative campaigning is well known to the film industry. -.- If he keeps this up, he'll have thousands of angry Aussie consumers prepared to firebomb his house...He has nearly every Aussie gamer want him dead, how much worse can it get for him? Well, if they actually kill him. Then that's about as worse as it can get for him. SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_love_burritos Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Michael Atkinson has a history of being completely [bleep]ing insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 So stupid. Thank god america isnt that dumb yetWell don't worry, we're gettin' there. Though I dunno; conservatism is going to come back quite powerfully soon, but they do claim "free enterprise" and stuff. "The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you never hear it you'll never know what justice is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abc1230 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Censorship = bad YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJoe Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Christ sake.I thought Germany were going to start acting like this (since in the last couple of years some fools have been wanting to crack down on violent games/movies). Which is weird, when you think of the weird movies that comes from that country. But Australia huh, hm. I don't really see why everyone like these types thinks a pair of [bleep] (fun bags), a machine gun and a blown off foot will permanently hurt a kids/adults mind. J'adore aussi le sexe et les snuff moviesJe trouve que ce sont des purs moments de vieJe ne me reconnais plus dans les gensJe suis juste un cas désespérantEt comme personne ne viendra me réclamerJe terminerai comme un objet retrouvé Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zierro Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I find censorship more "offensive" than sexual or violent themes. And I'm not really a fan of either of them in the media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenticular_J Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I hope Australia's still like this when I reach my film aspirations. Because my movies will pretty much give those guys heart attacks. catch it now so you can like it before it went so mainstream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I hope Australia's still like this when I reach my film aspirations. Because my movies will pretty much give those guys heart attacks. Inglourious Basterds X 10 times the gore. SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
____ Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 *facepalm* Time to start sending out letter bombs again aye? Start with the cotton wool parents who push for this junk... then the [wagon] people in office who actually make it happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alg Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 ...What.That is the most ridiculous law I've ever heard, and I've heard of some pretty dumb ones... I painted some stuff and put it on tumblr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warri0r45 Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Michael Atkinson has a history of being completely [bleep]ing insane. He really seems to be a serial pest on issues like this. The law is rediculous. What's it going to do? Kids can't legally hire R18+ vids without ID anyway. All it will do is piss off responsible adults that want to watch films intended for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now