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Classification Board

Australian Classification Board

1 January 1996 – present

Independent statutory board that classifies films, computer games and certain publications for release in Australia under the National Classification Scheme.

How it came into existence

Established on 1 January 1996, when the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 commenced, succeeding the Film Censorship Board (which dated from 1917 as the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board); it was supported by the Office of Film and Literature Classification until 2006.

Legislation: Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995

Changes during its life

  1. 2006Administrative support passed from the dissolved Office of Film and Literature Classification to the Attorney-General's Department.
  2. 2019Responsibility for classification, including support for the board, moved from the Attorney-General's portfolio to the communications portfolio.

Main functions

  • Classification of films
  • Classification of computer games
  • Classification of submittable publications
  • Decisions on refused classification material

Where it sits

In the portfolio of Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

Lineage

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Sources

Primary sources

Government records and websites

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.