All R-Rated Films To Be Treated Like Porn In South Australia

 title=Maybe all lazy parents should move to South Australia, because everyone’s favourite state government seems to want to do all your parenting for you. The South Australian government is now enforcing a law that requires all R-rated films for sale or hire to be segregated from all other movies of a lower rating. Not only that, but advertising R-rated films will also be illegal.

Essentially, this law is going to affect two types of businesses: places that sell or hire DVDs and Blu-ray films (everywhere from Target to Blockbuster), and cinemas.

The first change in the law, which says that you can’t display R-rated movies alongside movies of other ratings, requires a dedicated area for all R-rated content, which needs to be clearly marked with this statement (in font at least 15mm high):

R 18+ FILMS AREA—THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED THAT MATERIAL DISPLAYED IN THIS AREA MAY CAUSE OFFENCE.

In addition to that, the item’s surface area (such as a DVD cover) must not be more than 300 square centimetres (which is bigger than a DVD cover).

The other alternative given is to remove any covers or displays, other than the name of the movie (in font no larger than 1cm high) and the rating. No description, no funny quotes from Margaret Pomeranz, nothing.

So now, if you want to visit your local video store in South Australia to hire a copy of, let’s say Bruno or The Hangover (Extended), the only way you’ll be able to find it is by trudging through releases like Fuck me in the ass and say that you love me or Reel babes real breasts. Either that, or you have no idea about the contents of the film other than the film’s name and its rating.

The second part of the new laws restricts the ability to advertise R18+ rated films. Businesses (including cinemas) can no longer show trailers for R-rated films or display promotional material such as posters, pamphlets or other printed material. Although this probably won’t be too big a problem (very few theatrical releases have been classified R18+ in recent years – most make it as MA15+) for most businesses.

Still though, it’s enough to guarantee that I’ll never move to South Australia…

[PDF Summary via Justice SA]