LAW AND JUSTICE
Violence and images of violence are issues which are
of major public concern. The Government is committed
to reducing substantially the incidence of violence
in the community and secured the agreement of all the
States and Territories to uniform control of automatic
and semi-automatic firearms. The Australian Bureau
of Statistics' Women's Safety Survey published in December
1996 provided the first comprehensive national data
on the extent of all forms of violence against women
in Australia. The evidence demonstrates that prevention
of violence against women still requires concerted
efforts by all governments.
National
Campaign Against Violence and Crime
Through its $13 million National Campaign Against Violence
and Crime (1996-97 to 1998-99), the Government will
be attempting to address some of the concerns women
have about crime and violence in Australian society.
In 1997-98 work will be undertaken in the following
areas:
- a pilot project to prevent recurrent burglaries;
- a project targeted at adolescents and aimed at preventing
violence/victimisation in future relationships;
- an early intervention project with children under 10
years of age, with the ultimate aim of preventing future
delinquency;
- an audit and review of programmes provided for perpetrators
of domestic violence; and
- other general community awareness programmes aimed
at addressing fear of crime and reducing the culture
and incidence of violence in Australia.
National
Domestic Violence Summit
The Government remains strongly committed to reducing
the incidence of domestic violence in Australian families.
Domestic violence is not just a 'women's issue'. Violence,
in all its forms, is an issue for our whole community.
We have a responsibility to work towards a safe and
secure society for all Australians and for those who
are guests in our country. The Prime Minister will
convene a National Domestic Violence Summit later this
year, bringing together the Commonwealth and States
in a joint approach aimed at more effectively preventing
domestic violence across Australia.
The first step in the Summit process was the National
Domestic Violence Forum, held on 23 and 24 September
1996 at Parliament House in Canberra. It was attended
by some 130 experts in the area of domestic violence,
including the judiciary, the police, peak welfare organisations
and providers of services to victims of violence and
to children who witness domestic violence. The recommendations
arising from the Forum are informing the work of governments
in preparing for the Summit. Significant resources
are being committed to crisis support for women and
children experiencing violence. The Government believes
attention should now focus on prevention with initiatives
aimed at parents, and at young people to break the
cycle of violence; and on changing community attitudes
so that we become a nation which resists and rejects
violence.
Violence
in the Electronic Media
Following the Port Arthur Tragedy last year, a Ministerial
Committee was established to examine the portrayal
of violence in the electronic media. The Ministerial
Committee reported to Cabinet in July 1996 and made
a number of recommendations, including the introduction
of V-chips in televisions, the introduction of an industry
code of practice for video and interactive software
retailers and a review of the Classification Board
to ensure it was representative of the community.
As recommended by the Committee, the Attorney General
and State and Territory Censorship Ministers amended
classification guidelines for films and videos to remove
high level violence material from the R classification.
Such material would now be classified as RC (Refused
Classification). Several States have agreed to trial
the expansion of the Community Liaison Officer (CLO)
scheme which assists in monitoring and enforcing the
censorship classifications regime.
The Committee recommended that free to air broadcasters
modify films for broadcast in accordance with Office
of Film and Literature Classification Guidelines. These
are matters for national and commercial broadcasters
to implement through their respective codes of practice.
The revised draft Federation of Australian Commercial
Television Stations Commercial Television Industry
Code of Practice contains a clear reference to the
need to modify films in this way, and proposes a new
AV classification for more violent programmes and restricts
their broadcast to a 9.30pm to 5.00am time zone.
All of the recommendations are at various stages of
implementation by the relevant government and industry
bodies.
The Ministerial Committee received more than 700 submissions
from the public. Matters arising from submissions were
referred to the Senate Select Committee on Community
Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising
Electronic Technologies for more detailed consideration.
The Senate Select Committee's Report on the Portrayal
of Violence in the Electronic Media was tabled on 13
February 1997 and the Government is considering the
Committee's recommendations.
X-Rated Material
The Government has moved to ban X-rated videos and
to create a new category for non-violent sexually explicit
videos which will contain tighter guidelines. The decision
addresses community concerns about the availability
of any sexually violent and demeaning sexually explicit
material on video.
Content in the proposed non-violent sexually explicit
category will not permit the depiction of violence,
sexual violence, sexualised violence or coercion. It
also does not allow sexually aggressive language, depictions
which purposefully demean or for people over the age
of 18 to be portrayed as minors.
Consultation and negotiation on the Government position
will be undertaken with the State and Territory Censorship
Ministers on this matter.
The Government also agreed to ban X-rated programmes
and any replacement category on pay TV narrowcasting
services. Such services will be limited to providing
R-rated programming. Such programming, provided to
the home, must be limited to late night viewing and
can only be accessed by using a Personal Identification
Number.
Model Criminal
Code
The Government wants to see better protection under
the law for women and, as a member of the Standing
Committee of Attorneys' General (SCAG), has placed
the reform of sexual assault laws as a priority in
the development of a Model Criminal Code. The Model
Criminal Code Officers' Committee, in association with
the Office of the Status of Women, has just concluded
a series of nationwide consultations on the discussion
paper Sexual Offences Against the Person. The purpose
of the consultations was to ensure extensive community
input, especially the views of women, into preparation
of the Committee's recommendations to SCAG.
Women's Legal
Centres
The Government has maintained its commitment to the
ongoing operation of Women's Legal Centres through
continued support and funding at existing levels. The
Centres provide a range of services for women, including
legal advice, information and advocacy. This will continue
to provide women with affordable and accessible information,
assistance and support in relation to their legal rights
and responsibilities.
