Page 1321 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 16 April 1991
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We should also call on the Federal Government to do the following:
Firstly, direct the Customs Service to confiscate all unclassified pornography;
secondly, ban the transmission of unclassified material by post;
thirdly, dramatically tighten up on what is allowed in the R-rated category, both in sex and violence - or simply follow the recommendations by the 1988 Joint Select Committee on Video Material;
fourthly, ensure that unclassified material can quickly be identified as such so as to allow prosecutions to rapidly take place.
Let us not hide behind the suggestion that if we ban X-rated videos these criminals will break the law. They already break the law. X-rated video pornography can exist only where there is relatively open promotion. If we ban X-rated videos and prosecute anyone who tries to advertise them, we will greatly reduce pornography and, as a consequence, its harmful effects on our community.
The only message that pornographers understand is that the potential profit from pornography is not worth the risk they run in breaking the law. Let us prosecute them every time they break the law. Let us, as legislators, give to the few media organisations who profit from pornography by accepting illegal advertisements a clear message that we will no longer condone their lawbreaking, either. In Australia, clear messages by legislators to criminals that their activities will not be tolerated, as well as the necessary support for the judiciary and police, will drive organised crime back under the rock it came out from.
The Queensland Premier, Wayne Goss, is taking the lead in this matter with his recent statements that, "Pornography sellers who hope the Government will turn a blind eye to their trade are kidding themselves", and, "We aren't going to pass legislation then sit back and let pornography sellers flout the new laws. They will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law". In indicating that an active campaign was in progress to undermine the Government's stand against pornography in Queensland, Mr Goss said, "I expected this sort of campaign from people who seek to make huge profits from the sale of pornography, but the Government won't be swayed. This material these porn dealers want to peddle is harmful to some people, offensive to most people, and particularly degrading to women". The Labor leader deserves to be commended for his no-nonsense stand. Governments should punish pornographers, not protect them with lax laws, token prosecutions and insufficient penalties.
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