Senate Estimates Committee: Senator Joyce vs. Queer As Folk.

So, National Party Senator Barnie Joyce has a problem with Queer As Folk on SBS TV. A snippet from Monday's hansard of the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee for Senate Estimates (Shaun Brown is the Acting Managing Director of the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation):

Senator JOYCE— ... There seems to be a range of examples of things that make it onto SBS—and, being a father of four kids, yes, I know we should put them into bed early at night—that would not make it onto other television stations.
[...]
Without making any assertions about it—I will just read this anyway—on Queer as Folk, which is on at 10 pm:

In tonight’s episode, there is a hot new stud at Babylon and Brian immediately targets him but is amazed when the guy rejects his advances and he won’t accept the fact he’s been given the brush-off because that would mean facing his advancing gay mortality. Michael and Ben are proud of how Hunter is handling the backlash at school, but when Ben goes to school to attend Hunter’s debate, he discovers what has really been going on for Hunter. Emmett is a success at Channel 5 but Brian’s claim that he’s just another sexless fag for ratings leaves Emmett with second thoughts about his TV role. Since having plastic surgery, Ted now looks like a hot stud. His extreme makeover has given him confidence and when a lover from his past passes by, Ted takes the opportunity to pay him back.

Does that sound like the sort of thing that my children and someone else’s children should have access to?

Mr Brown—It is shown at 10 o’clock at night, which I think would be commonly regarded as an adult viewing time. It is preceded by warnings and it is officially classified MA so that it can be shown. It is a program that would be shown in other countries around the world. There is a British version of Queer as Folk.

Senator JOYCE—But is that how we rate things now—that if it is shown in other countries around the world then it is acceptable?

Mr Brown—No. I really only mention that to say that it is not exceptional as being shown here in Australia. It does beg the question of course whether or not Australia should suppress content that is shown elsewhere around the world.

Senator JOYCE—I do not care whether it is two blokes or a bloke and a girl. Either way you put it, it is a dynamic that implies explicitness, even in just how you advertise it.

Mr Brown—The explicitness will be reflected in its classification. I think if you watched it you might form a view that the classification is not inappropriate, not for 10 o’clock at night.

Via digeratemil.


Listening to:
Title: You Are Not My Friend
Artist: Frenzal Rhomb
Album/station: A Man's Not A Camel (1999)
Length: 3.26