Classification Review Board fails to protect children from abuse in 'Cuties' ruling
The sexually explicit dance movie Cuties, with actresses aged 12 to 14, was cleared for adult entertainment by the Classification Review Board on Friday 23 October, classifying it as MA15+.
Read moreClassification Board turns blind eye to paedophile grooming film ‘Cuties’
The Australian Christian Lobby is appalled by an Australian Government Classification Board determination late this week that the Netflix film ‘Cuties’ warrants only an MA15+ ‘Strong Themes’ label. The film includes an 11-year-old child uploading an image of her genitals to a social media platform.
Read moreSBS and ABC called to deliver content responsibly
The Australian Christian Lobby has called on Government-funded TV stations SBS and the ABC to tighten access to its adult-only material following warnings that children were able to watch violence and sex scenes online.
Read moreAustralian parents feel let down by the classification system
A trip to the movies is a school holiday tradition for many families. Choosing which movie is suitable for your children should be a simple matter of following the classification guidelines. But a recent survey by the Australian Council on Children and the Media has found that eight in 10 parents believe the classification system is letting them down and needs an urgent overhaul.
Read moreLogan is a superhero movie but it’s not for kids
An urgent request for the MA15+ rating assigned to the latest X-Men blockbuster, LOGAN, to be reviewed has been lodged with the Classification Review Board.
Read moreWe can do better than Seven Year Switch
MEDIA RELEASE
In television's ever-growing quest for shock-driven ratings, Channel 7 has stooped to a new low with its Seven Year Switch offering.
Australian Christian Lobby Managing Director Lyle Shelton said a program glamorising partner swapping and disloyalty did not present a vision of flourishing human relationships conducive to building a civil society.
"Channel 7 really should ask itself if this presents a vision of human dignity or is it just crass voyeurism?
"Many marriages and relationships have produced children by seven years. Is glamorising partner swapping really a good idea for the individuals and children that may be involved?"
Mr Shelton said Seven Year Switch plumbed a new low of so-called reality television.
"I really do think the Seven network could do better and that we as a society are better than this,” he said.
“We urge shareholders to express these concerns to management.”
Complaints can be lodged online, on the Channel 7 Facebook page, or on twitter @Channel7
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Hilton worldwide to remove all in-room porn
Hilton Hotels & Resorts have today announced that they have changed their policy in order to remove all on-demand pornographic videos from all of its properties, worldwide.
Read moreWatering down TV standards puts kids at risk
The Australian Christian Lobby has urged the Australian Communications and Media Authority to reject proposed changes to free-to-air television which include abolishing G timeslots, abolishing the AV rating and bringing forward M and MA timeslots.
Read moreMR: ACL concerned new classification rules for video games not being applied
Monday 23rd September 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby is concerned at reports that new classification rules for video games are not being applied.
ACL’s Managing Director Lyle Shelton said reports from South Australian Attorney-General Jay Rau that 13 games released in Australia this year had been given a MA15+ rating when they had higher age classification ratings overseas would be concerning to parents.
“We support the Minister’s call for the new federal Attorney-General George Brandis to review the way the Australian Classification Board is assessing video games,” he said.
“Parents must have confidence in the system to be able to meet community expectations and standards,” Mr Shelton said.
ACL supported the introduction of R18+ classification this year on the basis that it would allow misclassified games from MA15+ to be put out of reach of children. However, it appears that these changes haven’t been followed through.
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MR: ACL urges Coalition to rethink ISP filtering
For release: Friday 6th September 2013
The Australian Christian Lobby is urging the Coalition to rethink its opposition to internet filtering, Managing Director Lyle Shelton said.
“Initially we were heartened to hear that the Coalition had come to the position that only two months ago that British Prime Minister David Cameron had come to - that internet filtering was a necessary government intervention to protect children from exposure to pornography,” he said.
“For a fleeting moment last night it looked like the Coalition was in agreement with its colleagues in the UK.”
“In criticising the Coalition’s back flip on ISP filtering, Labor has ignored its own culpability on the issue – only last year did the Labor government renege on its 2007 and 2010 election commitment to introduce mandatory filtering of illegal content such as rape porn and bestiality porn from overseas,” he said.
In July, the ACL welcomed news that British Prime Minister David Cameron would introduce mandatory internet filtering if ISP’s did not act to protect children.
“Extreme libertarian views within politics leave children exposed to harmful content. Filtering technology has been proven not to slow the internet and effective at providing better protection. A civil society should deploy it,” he said.