1989
1989.1. Violence on Television
Submitted 5 March 1989 to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal
Published: Victorian Humanist, April 1989: 8 (& July 1990).
Research and the combined wisdom of our discussion group on the subject of Violence in Television provided the following points to our HSV submission to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal:
• We share the public concern about the rise of violent behaviour.
• Findings of the Victorian Parliament’s Social Development Committee, which held in 1987 an inquiry into Community Violence, link the viewing of television violence with aggressive behaviour.
• We deplore fictionalised portrayals of gratuitous violence and call for a campaign to deglamorise the Rambo style. We suggest television participate in such education by featuring “heroes” and achievers capable of resolving conflicts and problems without violence.
• It is acknowledged that accurate reportage of actual violent events is necessary and even of benefit in warning and informing the public. We support the British “watershed” system which presents such events after the Young Children’s Viewing Time.
• We submit that boxing is a violent activity and its televising should be restricted.
• New classification of viewing material and guidelines on the depiction of violence proposed by a section of the media have our strong support.
ADDENDUM
From the Victorian Humanist, July 1990: 11.
FEEDBACK: Violence on TV
The Inquiry into Violence on Television conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal was based on public submissions and commissioned research (HSV submission, March 1989).
A report just released gives 13 recommendations towards a self-regulating code on the treatment of violence on TV, such code to be uniform throughout the industry, monitored by the Tribunal, periodically evaluated and updated. Special attention and care is urged in regard to: child audience; depiction of suicide; depiction of violence out of context; intrusion into private grief; prohibition of violent acts or scenes in all TV advertisements; [and] introduction of a nationwide education program to enable parents and schools to assist children to deal with violence on TV.
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1989.2. Reproductive Technology
Submitted 20 April 1989 to the National Bioethics Consultative Committee
Published: Victorian Humanist, May 1989: 3 (& March 1990).
Submission to the National Bioethics Consultative Committee on aspects of Reproductive Technology: gamete donation, records and information.
We submitted our previously stated views on the value and importance of positive personal attributes and qualities above that of genetic origin.
We commented on the recommendations for types of registry and their confidentiality; on priorities of rights in conflicts of interest; on right to privacy and anonymity; on regulatory versus legislative approach.
Other aspects of the increasingly complex problems (mostly attitudinal) of reproductive technology will be open for public debate later in the year.
ADDENDUM
From the Victorian Humanist, March 1990: 3.
Feedback [on] Submissions
We received reports of several inquiries to which HSV had made submissions.
. . .
Reproductive Technology – Access to Info
The Bioethics Consultative Committee recommends that detailed records of offspring arising from gamete donations should be kept indefinitely in State-linked registers. The social parents can decide whether or not they inform they inform their children of the manner of conception. Persons with a legitimate interest in access to information are listed and the conditions of access are specified.
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1989.3. Review of Embryo Experimentation “Post-Syngamy”
Submitted 5 June 1989 to the Standing Review and Advisory Committee on Infertility.
Published: Victorian Humanist, July 1989: 3.
A moratorium imposed on human embryo research (see report, V.H. June ’89) resulted in a call for submissions from the public.
Within the specified frame of reference the HSV argued that:
• we favour the term pre-embryo till day 14 post syngamy. In the UK research can proceed to this sage; our law should be changed accordingly.
• it is irrational to confer moral, legal and social status prior to established implantation and signs of sentience.
• research should be permitted on the 100 frozen zygotes which are due to be discarded as unsuited for implantation.
• pressure exerted on government by minority groups such as Right-to-Lifers and the Catholic Bishops should not succeed in jeopardising research which holds such beneficial potential.
• it would be irrational and irresponsible to discard the fertilised ova without utilising them ‘to gain valuable knowledge.
• the infertile should be regarded as disabled with the right to assistance by all available modern means.
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1989.4. Inquiry into Violence
Submitted 6 June 1989 to the National Committee [Commission?] on Violence.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Sept. 1989: 2 (& March 1990).
In our lengthy, wide-ranging and much discussed submission to the National Commission on Violence we stated our views on domestic violence, the portrayal of violent behaviour, the availability of firearms, the role of drugs and alcohol and on support services for victims of violence.
Among a number of proposals we suggested the formation of a special police squad to deal with domestic violence and argued the merits of such a task force.
There is a growing body of evidence for the association between the frequent portrayal of gratuitous acts of violence on film and TV and subsequent aggressive behaviour particularly among the young.
We supplied copies of a number of articles and research reports to support our argument to deglamorise the Rambo style and to restrict the availability of offensive weapons.
Violent crime associated with the trafficking of illicit drugs, e.g. armed hold-ups and muggings, would be reduced were the use of drugs decriminalised.
We suggested a listing of victims’rights that should be established in law.
ADDENDUM
From the Victorian Humanist, March 1990: 3.
Feedback [on] Submissions
We received reports of several inquiries to which HSV had made submissions.
. . .
Violence – Directions for Australia (National Committee on Violence)
This is a major sociological document reminiscent of that from the Royal Commission on Human Relationships in 1977. Its depth, breadth and scholarship are impressive. It researches the patterns, trends and types of violence, and the risks based on demographic, geographic and socio-economic factors, age, gender and Aboriginality. It identifies vulnerable groups, sites (e.g. streets, public transport, prisons, gangs, schools), [and] violence in sport and in civil disorders. It examines biological factors, personality, mental illness, child-rearing practices, media influences, substance abuse and cultural factors.
There are some [recommendations?] to public sector and some non-government agencies on actions towards prevention and and control of violence. Amongst them are stricter gun laws and a minority recommendation for endorsement of the World Medical Association’s recommendation that boxing be banned.
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1989.5. Review of the Equal Opportunity Act
Submitted 26 June 1989 to the Victorian Law Reform Commission
Published: Victorian Humanist, Aug. 1989: 3.
The Equal Opportunity Act aims to eliminate specific kinds of discrimination, promote equality of opportunity between specific groups, and provide remedies for victims of discrimination. The Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, marital or de-facto status, parenthood, physical and mental impairment and religious and political belief.
Presently it is up for review by the Victorian Law Reform Commission to see whether changes should be made to its scope and administration.
Some proposed new grounds of discrimination to be covered by the Act are: age (e.g. junior wages, mandatory age of retirement, etc.), sexuality (mainly homosexuality), criminal record (past convictions).
Some areas, so far not covered by the Act, in which discrimination occurs are: superannuation schemes, clubs and organisations, charitable benefits (e.g. specific religions).
[Our] submission was made after a lengthy discussion of the comprehensive and informative Review Paper [Paper No. 17]. We were largely in agreement with the proposed changes to the Act but stressed the need for several important exemptions. These include:
Retirement should be encouraged at age 60-65 years but not be mandatory given the wide variation in individual productivity. Age-based awards should operate if only as an incentive to youth. We believe that immoral behaviour is defined by its forseeable detrimental consequences. Sexual acts between consenting adults do not meet this criterion.
Recent statistics show that needle sharing drug users and bisexual males acquire the HIV at a rate exceeding that of the homosexuals. Female homosexuals are the lowest HIV-risk group of all. As regards the workplace, special precautions are required only by health workers in direct contact with AIDS sufferers.
We expressed our regret that notions of morality, gender status and beliefs based on ancient dogmas find protection in the law of this modern, secular society.
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1989.6. Green Spot Scheme (Interim Report)
Submitted 12 September 1989 to the Ministry for Planning and Environment, Victoria.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Oct. 1989: 3.
The Victorian government initiated a scheme to promote environmentally sound products. The Green Spot program (a) issues bulletins which advise consumers on the purchase of such products and (b) is to devise a standard scheme for certifying and labelling such products. A Green Spot Advisory Panel was appointed last April to report on the mechanisms, participants, types and effectiveness of such programs overseas, initial selection of products, criteria for evaluation/certification/labelling, funding, promotion, legal framework and the extension of the scheme nationally.
Initially, the group of products considered for the Green Spot label are: paper products, energy saving devices, household cleaning agents, detergents, pesticides, plastic products and paints.
The Advisory Panel released its interim report for public information and consultations. . . We answered the call for comments and made a submission based on the collective wisdom of our discussion group. We suggested that:
• industry should not dominate the evaluating panel,
• writing pens, disposable v [sic] renewable, should be added to the list of products,
• the Green Spot would need to specify whether it refers to the product or to its container,
• larger or double Green Spot for products made from recycled as distinguished from recyclable material,
• radical improvements in recycling methods are required, such as collection at the door (rather than delivery to depots by each householder), deposits on containers, etc.,
• education of both adults and school children about this scheme-is crucial to its success and to the development of caring and responsibility for the environment.
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[End of 1989]
