Commonwealth Film Censorship Board
Film Censorship Board · Commonwealth Film Censorship
November 1928 – 1 January 1996
Commonwealth board that censored and later classified films imported into and exhibited in Australia, acting from 1949 for states that delegated their film censorship powers to it; an appeal board heard appeals against its decisions.
How it came into existence
Constituted in November 1928 under the customs film censorship regulations, on the recommendation of the 1927–28 royal commission on the moving picture industry, as a three-member board based in Sydney with Walter Cresswell O'Reilly as chief censor; it replaced the Commonwealth Board of Censors and its chief censor. A Senate committee account dates it to 1929. It worked within the customs administration and later in the Attorney-General's portfolio.
- Censorship of imported films
Legislation: Customs Act 1901 (Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations)
Changes during its life
- 1949Some states signed agreements delegating their film censorship powers and functions to the Commonwealth; the remaining states followed later.
- 1988Brought into the new Office of Film and Literature Classification in the Attorney-General's portfolio for administrative purposes.
How it ended
Replaced on 1 January 1996 by the Classification Board when the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 commenced; the change is often described as the board becoming the Classification Board.
- Classification of films
Main functions
- Censorship of imported films
- Banning or cutting of films judged objectionable
- Classification of films for exhibition
- Film censorship on behalf of states that delegated their powers (from 1949)
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.
Lineage
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Sources
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.