National Classification Code
as amended
made under section 6 of the
This compilation was prepared on 1 January 2013
taking into account amendments up to National Classification Code Amendment Notice 2012 (No. 1)
Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra
National Classification Code
1. Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the following principles:
(a) adults should be able to read, hear, see and play what they want;
(b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them;
(c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;
(d) the need to take account of community concerns about:
(i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and
(ii) the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.
Publications
2. Publications are to be classified in accordance with the following table:
| Item | Description of publication | Classification |
| 1 | Publications that: (a) describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or (b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or (c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence | RC |
| 2 | Publications (except RC publications) that: (a) explicitly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or (b) depict, describe or express revolting or abhorrent phenomena in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult and are unsuitable for a minor to see or read | Category 2 restricted |
| 3 | Publications (except RC publications and Category 2 restricted publications) that: (a) explicitly depict nudity, or describe or impliedly depict sexual or sexually related activity between consenting adults, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or (b) describe or express in detail violence or sexual activity between consenting adults in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; or (c) are unsuitable for a minor to see or read | Category 1 restricted |
| 4 | All other publications | Unrestricted |
Films
3. Films are to be classified in accordance with the following table:
| Item | Description of film | Classification |
| 1 | Films that: (a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or (b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be , a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or (c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence | RC |
| 2 | Films (except RC films) that: (a) contain real depictions of actual sexual activity between consenting adults in which there is no violence, sexual violence, sexualised violence, coercion, sexually assaultive language, or fetishes or depictions which purposefully demean anyone involved in that activity for the enjoyment of viewers, in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult; and (b) are unsuitable for a minor to see | X 18+ |
| 3 | Films (except RC films and X 18+ films) that are unsuitable for a minor to see | R 18+ |
| 4 | Films (except RC films, X 18+ films and R 18+ films) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing by persons under 15 | MA 15+ |
| 5 | Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films and MA 15+ films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 | M |
| 6 | Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films, MA 15+ films and M films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians | PG |
| 7 | All other films | G |
Computer Games
4. Computer games are to be classified in accordance with the following table:
| Item | Description of computer game | Classification |
| 1 | Computer games that: (a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or (b) describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or (c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence | RC |
| 2 | Computer games (except RC computer games) that are unsuitable for viewing or playing by a minor | R 18+ |
| 3 | Computer games (except RC and R 18+ computer games) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing or playing by persons under 15 | MA 15+ |
| 4 | Computer games (except RC, R 18+ and MA 15+ computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15 | M |
| 5 | Computer games (except RC, R 18+, MA 15+ and M computer games) that cannot be recommended for viewing or playing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of their parents or guardians | PG |
| 6 | All other computer games | G |
Notes to the National Classification Code
Note 1
The National Classification Code (in force under section 6 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Table of Instruments
| Title | Date of FRLI registration | Date of
commencement | Application, saving or
transitional provisions |
| National Classification Code | 26 May 2005 (see F2005L01284) | 26 May 2005 | |
| National Classification Code Amendment Notice 2012 (No. 1) | 26 Sept 2012 (see F2012L01933) | 1 Jan 2013 | — |
Table of Amendments
| ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted |
| Provision affected | How affected |
| C. 1......................................... ............................................. | am. 2012 No. 1 |
| C. 4......................................... ............................................. | am. 2012 No. 1 |