The Fun page of Laws and Legalities

Laws & Regulations

Uncharted Bodies is a media company that operates within Australias Laws & Regulations. 

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Uncharted Bodies mission is to empower individuals and remove all shame within the area of relationships, sexuality, sex & intimacy through ethical and educational content.

Unfortunately though not all content currently is legally allowed to be shared within Australia due to its censorship laws. Even so the laws are more blanket rules with broad terms that depict any sexual activity as obscene or leave us unsure of the specifics. So Uncharted Bodies will make all efforts to achieve it's mission whilst keeping within Australias set laws and regulations.

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The last thing we want is to get in trouble by the Australian government, but how are we suppose to make a positive change, remove shame, educate on safety, shine a more positive light on this area if we can't even talk about it? 

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Current Australian Laws & Regulations 2023*

Reference: https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/pornography-laws-australia

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Media which is to be sold, exhibited or distributed in Australia must first be classified by the Australian Classification Board.

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Classification markers include “G, PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+ or X 18+” for films and games, and “Unrestricted, Category 1 (restricted) or Category 2 (restricted)” for publications.

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If a film, game or publication does not fit this classification criteria, it is ‘Refused Classification’ (RC). It is illegal to sell, exhibit or distribute a film, game or publication that is RC (or would likely be RC).

Any sexually explicit media that is prohibited under the criminal law will automatically be RC including child abuse material and other abuse-based imagery.

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For pornography, depicting consenting adults, to be classified in Australia it would need to receive either an X 18+ classification (for films) or be considered a Category 2 (restricted) publication.

However, current guidelines severely limit the kinds of pornography that could be classified under this scheme. 

Under the current Publication Guidelines a publication will be RC (and therefore illegal throughout Australia) if it depicts:

‘revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults’.

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 ‘Revolting or abhorrent phenomena’ under the guidelines includes ‘fetishes or practices, sometimes accompanied by sexual activity, which are considered offensive’. Furthermore, ‘fetish’ is defined under the Publication Guidelines as:

‘[A]n object, an action, or a non-sexual part of the body which gives sexual gratification.  Mild fetishes include stylised domination and rubberwear.  Stronger fetishes include bondage and discipline.’

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Under the current Film Guidelines, a pornographic film will be RC if it depicts:

• Violence, even if violence is unrelated to the sex occurring in the film. Infamously, the Pirates of the Caribbean porn parody Pirates (2005) was initially prohibited in Australia because of its non-sexual fight scenes.

• Fetishes, which are much broadly defined under the film guidelines to include “body piercing, application of substances such as candle wax, ‘golden showers’, bondage, spanking or fisting”.

• People over the age of 18 portraying minors, including scenarios involving school uniforms or other indicators of youth.

• Incest fantasies or other fantasies which are offensive or abhorrent.

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As can be seen, many forms of pornography depicting consenting adults would not meet the criteria to be classified either Category 2 (restricted) or X 18+  in Australia and would be prohibited throughout the country.

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Along with pornographic films, the current guidelines have developed an infamous reputation for censoring sexually explicit art films, including the works of  Bruce LaBruce (LA Zombie), Greg Araki (Mysterious Skin), John Waters (Pink Flamingos) and Larry Clark (Ken Park). 

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Uncharted Bodies Response Statement

In response to the current laws depicted by Australia that are more restrictive than what's permitted in other countries Uncharted Bodies declares that:

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• All content on this site is strictly for the viewing of only those over the age of 18, as this site does contain content and language not appropriate for minors.

• All models or people photographed or videod are over the age of 18 and have given consent to the use of all content.

• All content created aspires for the highest ethical pracitises: Clear communication of boundaries and expectations, written consent, exercising safety physically, mentally and emotionally.

• All content shared is done so to protect the viewers and their boundaries with what they are comfortable viewing.

• Content on this site does explore and educate people on different areas of relationships, sexuality, sex and intimacy. Uncharted Bodies will do it's best to not share any content that is seen a offensive or obscene.

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Furthermore Uncharted Bodies believes the regulations are so broad and restrictive that:

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• Fetishes: Fetish is defined as what one finds as a sexual turn on. Therefore broadly speaking everything and anything can then be one persons fetish. Additionally shunning ones fetish or classifying it as offensive only suprresses peoples own desires, creating an issue with people feeling wrong or exploring their own desires in a hidden or worst unsafe practises. 

• Violence: Uncharted Bodies doesn't support any aggressive or violent behaviour, but as the regulations depict that any form of BDSM is violent it believes this too is unhealthy. As BDSM can come in many forms and when done in a safe environment can it actually be something very beautiful, intimate and even therapeutic. Through the lack of ethical and healthy educational content though people are once again having to explore this area in secret or worst through unsafe practises.

• Fantasies: Once again this is such a broad term that could recognise any sexual activity as a fantasy that is offensive to others. Doing so means people feel disempowered to explore their fantasies and once again feel they can't explore them or have to do it in secret.

• All Pornographic and Adult Content: The only way we as a society can make progress in any area is if we are able to shine a light on an area, are able to freely talk about things and educate people in the change we can make. As relationships, sexuality and sex are a huge part of our lives it makes it difficult for anyone to work in this field to try and make a positive change when there are so many broad and blanket regulations. Regulations are designed to protect people for their greater good, right now though it seems to be doing more of the opposite.

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Conclusion

Uncharted Bodies will do it's best to obide by Australias Regulations and Classification Laws. As though they are apparently more restrictive than helpful, this will be an ongoing challenge that Uncharted Bodies hopes to be part of making a positive change in.

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For the full length document of Australias prohibited content laws: https://www.alrc.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/11_the_scope_of_prohibited_content.pdf

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Accessibility

I'm currently in the process to always improve the user experience of the site for people of all abilities. As I am only a one man team though I apologise if I haven't made this user friendly to anyone who may have any vision, hearing or any other disabilities that impact their experience.

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If you're someone with any abilities that have impacted your experience I do apologise, and welcome you to reach out via email or phone call to share how I can better improve your experience.

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I hope to improve in this area in the near future as creating a safe and welcoming environmnet for all is important to myself.