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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (8 April) . . Page.. 679 ..

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I can confirm that Mr Flutter, of his own volition, has determined that he will seek a career path elsewhere. In fact, he does leave on the 14th. He does so with my best wishes for whatever he seeks to undertake in the future. At this stage I can make no comment about who might replace him. As I understand it, as from 14 April, Mr Allan Eggins, who is the present deputy, will act in the executive director's job until we go through the advertising process, which will be a public process, to determine who John Flutter's replacement will be.

MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Attorney-General, Mr Humphries. Mr Humphries, what are the implications for the Territory of the Commonwealth's new policy regarding X-rated videos?

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Hird for that question. Mr Hird is referring to the announcement yesterday by the Commonwealth Government of its view about X-rated videos. Members will be aware that there was speculation that the Federal Government would implement a policy of abolishing or banning X-rated videos in the Territories. I suppose there was some sensitivity about the Commonwealth moving in on the Territories after recent legislation. Whatever the reason, I am very pleased that the Commonwealth has decided to accept what is effectively a proposal I put to the Federal Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, in December last year.

The proposal tightens the classification of currently X-rated videos, so that material which includes things like bondage, some fetishes, demeaning images, as well as all forms of sexual violence, simulated or otherwise, will be banned. So, too, will videos depicting adults as children - the schoolgirl videos. As well as those changes, that shaving off of the more offensive fringe of the X classification, the classification itself will change from X to a more descriptive title, NVE, standing for non-violent erotica, and appropriate guidelines for the new material will be contained in that shift. The basic right of adults to watch and buy videos depicting consenting sexual acts between adults is preserved by this decision. I believe that constitutes a victory for commonsense.

It is a little bit rare perhaps to be doing so in this place, but I am quite pleased to commend the Federal Government on a sensible decision in this area. I think it would have been impractical to have considered banning X-rated videos. There are, on various estimates, between 10 million and 20 million such videos in circulation in Australia. To have attempted to ban those, no doubt, would have necessitated calls for a porn buy-back, which would have been a very interesting concept. We would have needed a special discreet entry to the police station to do that one. I think this is a way of ensuring that the offensive component of the X classification - and there was an offensive component - is in fact eliminated, but the essential category itself and providing access to material showing acts between consenting adults are preserved. I think it is a sensible compromise, and I commend the Federal Government on that compromise.

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