Classification of Publications Act 1991Reprint noteThis is the last reprint before repeal. Repealed on 5 June 2017 by 2017 Act No. 17 s 257.Classification of Publications (Approval of Codes of Conduct) Order 19921Short titleThis order in council may be cited as the Classification of Publications (Approval of Codes of Conduct) Order 1992.2Approval of codes of conduct(1)The Classification of Publications (Approved Distributors) Code of Conduct 1992 in Schedule 1 is approved.(2)The Classification of Publications (Sellers) Code of Conduct 1992 in Schedule 2 is approved.Schedule 1Classification of Publications (Approved Distributors) Code of Conduct 1992Part 1Preliminary1Short titleThis Code may be referred to as the Classification of Publications (Approved Distributors) Code of Conduct 1992.2PurposeThe purpose of this Code is to provide guidance for the publications classification officer and approved distributors about their respective roles in relation to the Act.3DefinitionsIn this Code—approved distributor means a distributor who is approved by the publications classification officer under section 8 of the Act;Censor ...def Censor om 1996 SL No. 399 s 12(1)inspector means an inspector appointed under section 5 of the Act;publications classification officer means the publications classification officer under section 6 of the Act;quarterly period means each of the following periods—(a)January to March;(b)April to June;(c)July to September;(d)October to December.
Part 2Underlying principles4Underlying principlesThe underlying principles of this Code are that—(a)an approved distributor is to—(i)distribute publications in a way that promotes the public interest in the enforcement of the Act; and(ii)subject to the Act, cooperate with, and assist, the publications classification officer and inspectors in the enforcement of the Act; and
(b)the publications classification officer will assist the distributor to comply with the Act and this Code.
Part 3Things that the publications classification officer is to do5Publications classification officer to notify approved distributor of guidelines etc.The publications classification officer is to notify an approved distributor of—(a)guidelines for the classification of publications, and any variations of the guidelines, issued under the Commonwealth Act; and(b)codes of conduct approved under section 7 of the Act that affect the approved distributor; and(c)any other material that the publications classification officer believes would be of assistance to an approved distributor in complying with the approved distributor’s obligations under the Act and this Code.
s 5 amd 1996 SL No. 399 s 12(2)6Publications classification officer to notify approved distributor of prohibited publication(1)If a publication receives a classification under which it would be a prohibited publication, the publications classification officer is to immediately give the approved distributor of the publication notice of its classification.(2)A notice under subsection (1) may be given either orally or in writing.Part 4Things that an approved distributor is to do7Approved distributor is to know about Act and Code etc.An approved distributor is to ensure that persons involved in its management have a good working knowledge and understanding of the Act, this Code and the guidelines, codes and other material mentioned in section 5.8Approved distributor is to nominate contact person(1)An approved distributor is to nominate an employee or agent as its contact person to facilitate contact by the publications classification officer with the approved distributor.(2)The person nominated—(a)is to be an adult; and(b)unless otherwise approved by the publications classification officer, is to reside in Queensland.
(3)The nomination is to—(a)be in writing; and(b)state the contact person’s name, address, telephone number and other relevant details required by the publications classification officer; and(c)be given to the publications classification officer within 7 days after particulars of the distributor’s approval under section 8 of the Act is published in the Gazette.
(4)The publications classification officer may accept or reject the nomination.(5)The publications classification officer is immediately to give written notice of the decision to the approved distributor.(6)If the publications classification officer has rejected the nomination, the notice is to—(a)give reasons for the rejection; and(b)require the approved distributor to submit another nomination under subsection (1) within the time specified in the notice.
(7)A person ceases to be an approved distributor’s contact person if the person—(a)unless an approval under subsection (2)(b) is in force—does not reside in Queensland; or(b)dies; or(c)ceases to be an employee or agent of the approved distributor; or(d)is removed from the position by the approved distributor and written notice of the removal is given to the publications classification officer by the approved distributor.
(8)Within 7 days after the person ceases to be the approved distributor’s contact person, the approved distributor is to nominate another person as the approved distributor’s contact person.(9)Subsections (1) to (6) apply, with all necessary changes, to a nomination under subsection (8).(10)A notice under this Code may be given to an approved distributor by giving it to the approved distributor’s contact person.9Approved distributor must exercise care(1)In distributing publications, an approved distributor is to exercise the care and diligence necessary to ensure, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, that the distributor does not distribute a prohibited publication.(2)In particular, an approved distributor is to—(a)examine publications to determine whether they are prohibited publications; and(b)submit to the board for classification any unclassified publication that could reasonably be expected to receive a classification under which it would be a prohibited publication; and(c)ensure that procedures are adopted and routinely carried out to prevent the distribution of prohibited publications.
s 9 amd 1996 SL No. 399 s 12(3)10Withdrawal of publication from distributionOn becoming aware that it has distributed a prohibited publication, an approved distributor is to immediately take all reasonable action to have the prohibited publication withdrawn from distribution, sale and exhibition.11Titles of publications distributed to be suppliedOn the first working day of each quarterly period, an approved distributor is to give the publications classification officer written notice of the titles of all publications that the approved distributor then distributes.Schedule 2Classification of Publications (Sellers) Code of Conduct 1992Part 1Preliminary1Short titleThis Code may be cited as the Classification of Publications (Sellers) Code of Conduct 1992.2PurposeThe purpose of this Code is to provide guidance for the publications classification officer and sellers about their respective roles in relation to the Act.3DefinitionsIn this Code—approved distributor means a distributor who is approved by the publications classification officer under section 8 of the Act;Censor ...def Censor om 1996 SL No. 399 s 13(1)inspector means an inspector appointed under section 5 of the Act;publications classification officer means the publications classification officer under section 6 of the Act;seller means a person who sells publications by retail in the ordinary course of business, and includes a retail seller.Part 2Underlying principles4General principlesThe underlying principles of this Code are that—(a)a seller is to—(i)sell publications in a way that promotes the public interest in the enforcement of the Act; and(ii)subject to the Act, cooperate with, and assist, the publications classification officer and inspectors in the enforcement of the Act; and
(b)the publications classification officer will assist the seller to comply with the Act and this Code.
Part 3Things that the publications classification officer is to do5Publications classification officer to notify seller of guidelines etc.The publications classification officer is to notify a seller of—(a)guidelines for the classification of publications, and any variations of the guidelines, issued under the Commonwealth Act; and(b)codes of conduct approved under section 7 of the Act that affect the seller; and(c)any other material that the publications classification officer believes would be of assistance to a seller in complying with the seller’s obligations under the Act and this Code.
s 5 amd 1996 SL No. 399 s 13(2)Part 4Things that a seller is to do6Seller is to know about Act and Code etc.A seller is to have a good working knowledge and understanding of the Act, this Code and the guidelines, codes and other material mentioned in section 5.7Seller is to exercise care(1)In selling publications, a seller is to exercise the care and diligence necessary to ensure, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, that the seller does not sell a prohibited publication.(2)In particular, a seller is to—(a)if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a publication is a prohibited publication—examine the publication to determine whether it is a prohibited publication; and(b)submit to the board for classification any unclassified publication that could reasonably be expected to receive a classification under which it would be a prohibited publication; and(c)ensure that procedures are adopted and routinely carried out to prevent the sale of prohibited publications.
s 7 amd 1996 SL No. 399 s 13(3)8Notification of distribution of prohibited publication(1)If a seller becomes aware that a publication distributed to the seller by a distributor is a prohibited publication, the seller is immediately to notify the distributor that the distributor has distributed a prohibited publication to the seller and of the circumstances of its distribution.(2)It is an offence under sections 12 and 15 of the Act, for which severe penalties are provided, for a seller to sell, exhibit or display a prohibited publication.