Media Release

Minister Fletcher’s intervention needed on potential child abuse material on Netflix

Last week a Texan grand jury indictment was served on Netflix. It alleges criminal content in the film, namely the “lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child which appeals to the prurient interest in sex…”

This film is now streaming on Netflix in Australia.

“Under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, we consider that it is likely that these highly sexualised, close-up elements of the film constitute ‘child abuse material’ and have requested the Federal Police Commissioner to investigate,” ACL spokesperson for Women and Children Wendy Francis said.

“Australian parents are understandably irate that the Classification Board did not Refuse Classification for a film about 11-year-old girls who perform explicit sexualised acts and provocative dance routines. The film includes a girl, apparently 12 or 13 years old, uploading an image of her private parts to a social media platform.

“Why have a classification system at all if it does not filter out child abuse material? The Australian Classification Board did not address the issue of potential child abuse material in its decision on 17 September.

“The ball is in the court of Minister Fletcher to appeal the decision to the Classification Review Board, asking that the Board take into account potential child abuse material.”

ENDS

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