{"id":"classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985","name":"CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLICATIONS, FILMS AND COMPUTER GAMES REGULATIONS 1985","slug":"classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174421,"registerId":"nt-classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLICATIONS, FILMS AND COMPUTER GAMES REGULATIONS 1985","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nCLASSIFICATION OF PUBLICATIONS, FILMS AND COMPUTER GAMES\nREGULATIONS 1985\nAs in force at 1 July 2014\nTable of provisions\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n7 Display of sexual articles ................................................................. 1\n8 Exemptions ...................................................................................... 1\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 July 2014\n____________________\nCLASSIFICATION OF PUBLICATIONS, FILMS AND COMPUTER GAMES\nREGULATIONS 1985\nRegulations under the Classification Of Publications, Films And\nComputer Games Act 1985\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Classification of\nPublications, Films and Computer Games Regulations 1985.\n2 Commencement\nThese Regulations shall come into operation on the\ncommencement of the Classification of Publications Act 1985.\n7 Display of sexual articles\nFor section 102(3)(a) of the Act, a pharmacy business as defined in\nSchedule 7, clause 1 of the Health Practitioners Act 2004 is a\nprescribed business.\n8 Exemptions\nFor section 118(2) of the Act, the Charles Darwin University, the\nAlice Springs College of Technical and Further Education,\nBatchelor Institute, the Northern Territory Open College of\nTechnical and Further Education, Katherine Rural College (known\nas the Northern Territory Rural College) and the Board of the\nMuseum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory are prescribed\npersons.\n\nENDNOTES\nClassification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Regulations 1985 2\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nClassification of Publications Regulations (SL No. 29, 1985)\nNotified 6 November 1985\nCommenced 1 June 1986 (r 2, s 2 Classification of Publications Act 1985\n(Act No. 7, 1985) and Gaz S26, 28 May 1986)\nAmendments of Classification of Publications Regulations (SL No. 40, 1992)\nNotified 12 August 1992\nCommenced 12 August 1992\nAmendments of Classification of Publications and Films Regulations (SL No. 5, 1993)\nNotified 30 April 1993\nCommenced 1 May 1993 (r 2, s 2 Classification of Publications and Films\nAmendment Act 1993 (Act No. 10, 1993) and Gaz S42,\n30 April 1993)\nClassification of Publications and Films Amendment Act 1995 (Act No. 53, 1995)\nAssent date 28 December 1995\nCommenced 1 January 1996 (s 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1999 (Act No. 27, 1999)\nAssent date 18 June 1999\nCommenced 18 June 1999\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2004 (Act No. 54, 2004)\nAssent date 15 September 2004\nCommenced 27 October 2004 (Gaz G43, 27 October 2004, p 3)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2005 (Act No. 44, 2005)\nAssent date 14 December 2005\nCommenced 14 December 2005\n\nENDNOTES\nClassification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Regulations 1985 3\nClassification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Amendment Act 2008 (Act\nNo. 25, 2008)\nAssent date 17 October 2008\nCommenced 1 July 2009 (Gaz G25, 24 June 2009, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2011 (Act No. 30, 2011)\nAssent date 31 August 2011\nCommenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 5)\nHealth Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2012 (Act No. 17,\n2012)\nAssent date 22 May 2012\nCommenced 1 July 2012 (s 2)\nMuseum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Act 2014 (Act No. 6, 2014)\nAssent date 20 March 2014\nCommenced 1 July 2014 (s 2)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: rr 1 and 7.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 1 amd No. 40, 1992, r 1; Act No. 53, 1995, s 28\nrr 3 – 4 rep No. 40, 1992, r 4\nr 5 sub No. 40, 1992, r 5; No. 5, 1993, r 3\nrep Act No. 53, 1995, s 28\nr 6 rep Act No. 53, 1995, s 28\nr 7 amd Act No. 44, 2005, s 22; Act No. 25, 2008, s 32; Act No. 30, 2011, s 3;\nAct No. 17, 2012, s 55\nr 8 amd No. 40, 1992, r 6; Act No. 53, 1995, s 28; Act No. 27, 1999, s 16; Act\nNo. 54, 2004, s 8; Act No. 25, 2008, s 33; Act No. 30, 2011, s 3; Act No. 6,\n2014, s 43\nsch ins No. 40, 1992, r 7\namd No. 5, 1993, r 4\nrep Act No. 53, 1995, s 28","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has shrunk dramatically from its original scope. The endnotes reveal that rules 3-6 and an entire Schedule were repealed, leaving only two substantive provisions. What was likely originally a more comprehensive regulatory scheme has been reduced to a minimal residual framework – essentially just two specific exemptions (pharmacies for sexual articles, and educational/cultural institutions for general exemptions). The amendments show a progressive stripping back of content through the Statute Law Revision Acts and the 1995 Amendment Act, suggesting the original 1985 regulations were far more extensive."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short – only 2 substantive provisions (rules 7 and 8) remain in force","No defined terms within the regulations themselves (relies entirely on external definitions from the Health Practitioners Act 2004)","Simple, direct cross-references to specific sections of the parent Act (sections 102(3)(a) and 118(2))","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward prescription of entities – essentially just two lists","Historical legislative archaeology visible in endnotes showing extensive repeals (rules 3-6 and Schedule all repealed), leaving a skeletal remainder"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** These are Northern Territory regulations made under the Classification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Act 1985. They set specific rules about who can display sexual articles and which organisations are exempt from certain classification requirements.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Pharmacy businesses** – specifically defined under the Health Practitioners Act 2004, which are allowed to display sexual articles (likely contraceptives, sexual health products) under section 102(3)(a) of the main Act\n- **Educational and cultural institutions** – Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs College of TAFE, Batchelor Institute, Northern Territory Open College of TAFE, Katherine Rural College (also called Northern Territory Rural College), and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Board\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Rule 7** tells us that pharmacies count as \"prescribed businesses\" for the purpose of displaying sexual articles. This means they have specific legal permission to display items that might otherwise be restricted.\n- **Rule 8** lists specific educational and cultural organisations that are \"prescribed persons\" exempt from certain requirements under section 118(2) of the Act. This likely allows them to show films or publications for educational, artistic or cultural purposes without needing the usual classification approvals.\n\n**Why it matters:** These rules create practical exceptions to classification laws. Without them, pharmacies might struggle to legally display sexual health products, and universities or museums might face bureaucratic hurdles when showing films or publications for legitimate educational or cultural purposes. The regulations recognise that context matters – a university film screening or a pharmacy display serves different purposes than commercial sale of restricted material."},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations were originally made in 1985 but have a listed commencement date of 01/07/2014, strongly suggesting the instrument has been substantially remade or amended over time. The scope has likely expanded significantly since 1985 to encompass computer games and digital media — categories that barely existed when the Regulations were first drafted. The inclusion of 'Computer Games' in the title reflects this broadening of scope beyond the original focus on publications and films."},"complexity_factors":["The document provided contains very little substantive content — mostly metadata and structural headings — making full analysis impossible","The underlying subject matter (classification procedures) is moderately technical but not inherently complex for a regulations instrument","Regulations of this type typically involve cross-referencing with the parent Act (Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995), adding some interpretive complexity","Fee structures and procedural requirements in classification regulations can involve detailed schedules, but none are visible in the provided text","The 1985 origin date with a 2014 commencement suggests significant amendment history, which adds layers of complexity when tracing current obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"The Regulations set the practical rules for classifying publications, films and computer games in Australia, affecting publishers, filmmakers, game developers, distributors, retailers and the public by governing how content is rated and labelled.  \n\nThey flesh out the Classification Act’s procedures — how to apply, fees and required information for review — and matter because selling, screening or distributing most films and games without a valid classification is generally unlawful and classification protects consumers, especially children."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations' practical scope has been altered by multiple amendments to rr 7 and 8 (see endnotes and list of amendments). Those amendments adjusted which businesses count as prescribed for display rules and which tertiary and cultural bodies are exempt, thereby changing who is covered by display controls and who benefits from exemptions under the principal Act."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument with only two operative provisions (rr 7–8) plus commencement and citation","Direct cross-references to the principal Act (s 102(3)(a) and s 118(2)) require reading of the Act to see full effect","Reliance on an external definition: \"pharmacy business\" is defined in Schedule 7, cl 1 of the Health Practitioners Act 2004","Prescribed persons are named institutions, creating dependence on institutional names and later statute changes (e.g. Museum and Art Gallery Act 2014)","Extensive amendment history recorded in endnotes — tracking which amendment altered scope requires consulting multiple amending Acts","Operational effect is simple, but legal effect dispersed across multiple instruments (the Act, Health Practitioners Act, and amendment Acts)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations identify who counts as a \"prescribed business\" for display controls and which organisations are exempt from classification rules. Regulation 7 treats a \"pharmacy business\" (as defined in Schedule 7, cl 1 of the Health Practitioners Act 2004) as a prescribed business; regulation 8 lists specific tertiary and cultural institutions as exempt persons. This matters because it clarifies which businesses must follow display restrictions for sexual articles and which institutions are relieved from certain classification obligations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985","history":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985/history","analysis":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/classification-of-publications-films-and-computer-games-regulations-1985/documents"}}