Australian photographer Bill Henson--scapegoat for a wider assault on democratic rights

The material is child pornography, in the UK, the police would have Henson remanded in custody at this stage. The SOA 2003 was legislated in the UK precisely because of people like Bill Henson.

Its somewhat worse than your story indicates. In Canberra police are going through Henson's collection held by the National Gallery. None are on display but according to the Keystone Kops it makes no difference they still COULD be pornographic.
The repression extends beyond Henson. Cops are now regularly visiting art galleries to intimidate owners into self-censorship. Recently an exhibit on the oppression of Palestine was closed in a Sydney suburb after a visit by (wait for it) the police anti-terrorism squad. The Council, made up of members of the same Labor (sic) party as art-bashers PM Rudd and NSW Premier Iemma, closed the exhibition.
These antics have made Australia look like the home of a 1001 clowns. Unfortunately its not funny.

I hope Obama turns out to be better than Australia's new head demagogue and chief, Kevin Rudd. Sheesh!

(The classification board has just cleared (in a letter to the IATC) the uncensored photographs. They’d previously cleared the censored material.)

PRESS RELEASE

NO EMBARGO

05 June 2008

CLASSIFICATION BOARD CLEARS FOR PUBLICATION UNCENSORED NUDE PHOTOGRAPH OF 13 YEAR OLD CHILD

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The Irish Anti-Trafficking Coalitions is dismayed that the Australian authorities have cleared for publication an uncensored nude photograph of a 13 year old girl. This closely follows the Classification Board’s green light for photographers to take pictures of naked under-age models after backing down on an investigation into a fashion magazine. Australia is closely emulating Japan in its failure to regulate indecent images of children.

The decision by the Classification Board is in violation of Australia’s obligations under the UNCRC, CEDAW and ICCPR. This is the first occasion anywhere in the world that a nude photograph of a female child who was subject to a police investigation relating to a sexually motivated crime has been cleared for publication. This decision is also a fundamental breach of Australia’s reponsibilities as partner nation of the Virtual Global Taskforce.

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Gregory Carlin

Director

Irish Anti-Trafficking Coalition
4 Downfine Walk
Belfast
Northern Ireland
UK

(UK) 44 (0) 2890 963164

Note:

U18 topless photographs are classified as child pornography in the United Kingdom.

The IATC was a consulting partner with the UK govt. in relation to the SOA 2003

We fail to remember we live in a country where we can marry at the age of 14 in one state and go to prison in the next state over for being with the same person.
We can freely carry guns with a carrying permit upstate NY then go to jail if we travel to the city part of NY. Before we criticize things in this world maybe we should
be more worldly?