From: fun@tertius.net.au.remove_this_spamtrap_to_email (David Gerard)
Newsgroups: aus.censorship,aus.musicf
Subject: ARIA newsletter on Code of Practice
Date: 2 Jan 1997 05:58:50 GMT

The following was scanned in from the ARIA Newsletter (No. 4, 1996).
Note that this is the *official newsletter* of the organisation and
is mailed to all industry members.

Read the below carefully - I don't need to emphasis how much concern
both the ARIA words and those of the OFLC (arrogant arseholes) give me.



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Censorship - Code of Practlce

  As reported in the previous newsletter, the Code of Practice
for labelling product with explicit and potentially offensive Iyrics
began implementation on 31 October 1996.
  By now all ARIA members should have obtained copies of
the new labels and be stickering product in line with the Code.
  As reported previously, the seven States' and Temtories'
Attorneys-General have given the Code a twelve month trial
period. ARIA recently received a letter from the 0ffice of Film
and Literature Classification (OFLC), the key sections of
which are as follows:
  "The Ministers agreed to monitor the self-regulatory approach to offen-
sive audio material as introduced by the code of practice over a 12 month
trial period, with a view to replacing it with a regulatory system if it does
not prove effective over that time. During tke trial period, the offensive
audio material issue will remain on the agenda for the regular SCAG
meetings and the States and Territories will closely monitor the
level of complaints in their jurisdic tions, particularly concerning the
effectiveness of the 18+ recommendatory category.
  Ministers also requested that your members be made aware that compli-
ance with the ARIA code of practice will not provide them with an exemp-
tion from existing State and Territory laws relating to the sale of offensive
material. Indeed, it is quite probable that some rnaterial falling within the
ARIA 18+ recommendatory category would be offensive under the relevant
statutes of the different jurisdictions.
  Ministers have specifically requested that their above concerns on the
issue of offensive audio material be conveyed to your organisation with a
request that you provide a full report on the levels of compliance and com-
plaint during the twelve month trial period. It would be appreciated if your
report could also include details of any recommended fine-tuning amendments
to the scheme and further serious consideration of the matter of the 18+
restriction on the sale of material containing stonger Iyrics. "
  As it is clear that the Ministers intend to monitor the operation
of the Code very carefully, it is thus very important that all
members comply.
  To enable ARIA to produce a report on the Code's operation it
is very important that all members fill in a copy of the Labelling
Reporting form, recently sent to you, every time a recording is
stickered/restricted from sale. These forms should then be for-
warded to ARIA at least quarterly. Members who did not receive
a copy of the Reporting form should contact Karen Don at
ARIA immediately.

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