New classification exemption arrangements for festivals and special events

We welcome the latest reform to the Classification Act which allows exemption arrangements for festivals and special events.

The following statement was taken directly from www.classification.gov.au

11 September 2015, amendments to the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 take effect that streamline and simplify the classification exemption arrangements for special events like film festivals and computer game expos and for cultural institutions such as art galleries and museums wishing to exhibit unclassified films, computer games and publications.

The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Conditional Cultural Exemption Rules) Instrument 2015, which provides further details on the exemptions, will also take effect on 11 September 2015.

Event organisers will no longer be required to apply to the Director of the Classification Board for an exemption from the usual classification requirements.  Rather, they will be able to self-assess their eligibility for an exemption.

• For an exemption to apply, events that wholly or mainly involve the showing of films, computer games or publications, such as a film festival or a computer games expo, must be registered on the online classification portal.
• Approved cultural institutions are not required to register their events. However, event organisers must use persons trained by the Attorney-General’s Department to assess the unclassified material for the exemption to apply.

More information about the new classification exemption arrangements is available on the Industry Guides and Fact Sheets  pages.