Classification (Waiver of Fees) Principles 20081
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995
I, BOB DEBUS, Minister for Home Affairs, determine these Principles under subsection 91 (1B) of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995.
Dated 21 April 2008
BOB DEBUS
Minster for Home Affairs
Contents
                        1     Name of Principles                                                                              2
                        2     Commencement                                                                                  2
                        3     Purpose                                                                                              2
                        4     Revocation                                                                                          2
                        5     Definitions                                                                                           2
                        6     Character of material                                                                            3
                        7     Public interest                                                                                     4
                        8     Requirements for all waiver applications                                                 4
                        9     Additional requirements for certain waiver applications                            4
                       10     False or misleading information                                                             5
                       11     Material restricted to adults                                                                  5
                       12     Extent of waiver                                                                                   5
 
 
 
 
1              Name of Principles
                These Principles are the Classification (Waiver of Fees) Principles 2008.
2              Commencement
                These Principles commence on the day after they are registered.
3              Purpose
         (1)   These Principles set out matters to be considered, and information required, by the Director or the Convenor in making a decision about waiving all or part of the fee for a substantive application.
         (2)   These Principles do not apply to an application for enforcement purposes under the agreement dated 28 November 1995 between the Commonwealth, the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory about a revised cooperative legislative scheme for censorship in Australia.
4              Revocation
                The Classification (Waiver of Fees) Principles 2000 are revoked.
5              Definitions
                In these Principles:
Act means the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995.
material, for a waiver application, means a publication, film, computer game or advertisement that is the subject of a substantive application.
substantive application:
                (a)    for the Director — means an application under section 13, 14 or 17, subsection 27 (1) or section 29 or 32 of the Act; and
               (b)    for the Convenor — means an application under subsection 27 (4) or section 37 or 43 of the Act.
waiver application means an application under subsection 91 (1) or (1A) of the Act for the waiver of all or part of the payment of fees payable, or notionally payable, under the Act.
Note   The following words and expressions used in these Principles have the same meaning as they have in the Act:
·      adult
·      advertisement
·      computer game
·      Convenor
·      Director
·      enforcement application
·      film
·      publication.
6              Character of material
         (1)   For these Principles, material is taken to be:
                (a)    special interest material, if it relates to a subject, interest or pursuit that is of particular interest to a group of persons, such as a community group or a cultural group, as distinct from the public at large; and
Example
A hobby, recreational activity or a special event.
               (b)    of limited distribution, if it is intended to be published or otherwise made available in small quantities of not more than:
                          (i)    for a film for public exhibition — 3 prints or copies; or
                         (ii)    for a publication, a film for sale or hire or a computer game — 50 prints or copies; and
                (c)    a documentary record of an event, if it provides factual information about an event such as a public occasion (including the opening of public infrastructure, a sporting fixture, a horticultural display or an artistic performance) or a family or private occasion (including a wedding); and
               (d)    of a cultural or like nature, if it is about:
                          (i)    the expression of a sporting or artistic activity such as singing or dancing or a craft or other physical or intellectual activity (including the sporting, art, craft or other activity of a particular group or community within the wider community); or
                         (ii)    a community activity such as a historical re‑enactment, a charity fundraising activity or an agricultural show; or
                         (iii)    a religious or spiritual activity.
         (2)   For paragraph (1) (b), the likely demand and the likely financial return to the applicant from the release of the material is relevant to considering whether it is intended to have limited distribution.
7              Public interest
         (1)   For these Principles, a waiver will be in the public interest, if the material:
                (a)    involves a matter of interest to the public at large, or to a significant portion of the public; or
               (b)    provides a public benefit; or
                (c)    encourages or contributes to a desirable public purpose.
         (2)   For subsection (1), the Director or Convenor must consider:
                (a)    the general nature and content of the material; and
               (b)    the persons or class of persons to whom, or among whom, the material is intended, or likely, to be published; and
                (c)    the persons or class of persons who are likely to benefit directly or indirectly from publication of the material.
8              Requirements for all waiver applications
         (1)   A waiver application must:
                (a)    be in writing; and
               (b)    include the name and address of the applicant; and
                (c)    set out the grounds on which a waiver is sought; and
               (d)    state whether a full or partial waiver is sought; and
                (e)    if the applicant claims to be a non‑profit organisation — include evidence of that fact.
         (2)   A waiver application must be made with the substantive application for which the waiver is sought.
9              Additional requirements for certain waiver applications
         (1)   This section applies if the substantive application for which waiver is sought is an application for:
                (a)    the classification of a publication, film or computer game; or
               (b)    the approval of an advertisement; or
                (c)    a certificate of exemption; or
               (d)    the review of a classification, approval or exemption mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
         (2)   The waiver application must be accompanied by a statement setting out:
                (a)    information about the retail price of the material intended for sale, exhibition or hire (if applicable); and
               (b)    information about the number of copies or prints of the material that will be distributed for sale, exhibition or hire; and
                (c)    a description of the likely or intended audience for the material; and
               (d)    whether the material is to be released primarily for commercial purposes.
         (3)   However, an applicant for a review is taken to comply with subsection (2) if the applicant:
                (a)    was not the applicant for the classification, approval or exemption sought to be reviewed (the original applicant); and
               (b)    lodges with the application a statement that the applicant was not the original applicant and is unable to comply with the subsection.
10            False or misleading information
                The Director or Convenor may reject a waiver application if there are reasonable grounds for believing it contains false or misleading information.
11            Material restricted to adults
                The Director or Convenor should not waive a fee for material of a kind mentioned in paragraph 91 (1) (c) or (1A) (c) of the Act if the material is likely to be restricted to adults.
12            Extent of waiver
         (1)   The Director or Convenor may grant a full waiver of a fee for an applicant mentioned in an item in the following table only if the material satisfies the conditions mentioned in the item.
Item
Applicant
Conditions

1
The Commonwealth, a State or Territory or an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory
The material is to be released for public health, or educational purposes, and not primarily for commercial purposes

2
A non‑profit organisation, established for the public benefit
The material is not to be released primarily for commercial purposes

3
An applicant other than an applicant mentioned in item 1 or 2
   (1)  The material is to be released for public health, or educational purposes, and not primarily for commercial purposes.

 
 
   (2)  The applicant demonstrates that:
        (a)   the applicant will not gain materially (by promotion or otherwise), from the release of the material; and
        (b)   the public will benefit from the release of the material

         (2)   If the material does not satisfy a condition mentioned for it in subsection (1), the Director or Convenor may grant a waiver for 50% of the fee that would otherwise be payable.
Note
1.       All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.