What music lyrics are your children listening to?

RESULT: There is an investigation into this matter by the Parliament. The current review of the Guidelines for the Office of Film and Literature Classification was asked to consider this matter. Please continue to take action on this one!

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Completed campaign...
However the issue of music lyrics is one that still needs our attention...

2001 Report
Violence, drug use, suicide, rape and child abuse are frequent themes in today's music. Bands whose songs have offensive lyrics include Metallica (drugs, murder, suicide); Nirvana (suicide, glorifies rape); Slayer (necrophilia, killing), Silverchair (suicide); Bone Thugs N Harmony (Marijuana, kill police); Eminem (murder, rape). We have seen written transcripts of some of the lyrics and believe that many of them should be banned.

Offensive music lyrics are not covered by federal legislation, although written lyrics, visual images, film and computer games are all covered by the Commonwealth Classification Act. The Record Industry group ARIA has a Code of Practice but it relies on a voluntary labelling system.

We are campaigning to have music lyrics brought under the Commonwealth Classification Act. One parent says, "Under the Act, written lyrics that incite or instruct in hard drug use, criminal violence, sexual violence, bestiality, child abuse, incest and suicide are not permitted to be sold. Unfortunately verbal lyrics are not covered by the Act, so verbal lyrics that promote these kinds of criminal behaviour are getting through to the public. Those most at risk are young teenagers, who are sold this sort of material and are desensitised to the impact of violence of any form."

She says "Legislation will come about if people are diligent and put pen to paper. The Committee is sitting up and listening. Let's Act Now!"

ACTION: Write to your Federal Member of Parliament and Senators. (Phone 132326 if you don't know their name or details or click here .) Request that he/she represent YOU on this issue to the Attorney General the Hon Darryl Williams, asking that verbal lyrics be brought into line with the written lyrics under the Commonwealth Classification Act.

Also write to the Attorney General directly at Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600.

ASK your friends to write too. We need a huge amount of mail to arrive on their desks so they take this matter seriously.

From the June 2001 SALT SHAKERS Journal.