DOMINION POST, 10 November 2005, A2.
by ANNA CHALMERS
THE Government is being accused of sloppy housekeepng after it was revealed that eight members of the censorship board are serving in positions that expired 15 months ago.
Jobs for all but one of the nine members on the Film & Literature Board of Review expired in May last year. It does independent reviews of classifications by the Office of Film and Literature Classification for publications. Though the Films [Videos and Publications Classification] Act [1993] allows some delay in reappointing members – who can sit on the board for up to six years – the situation is “unprecedented”, Society for the Promotion of Community Standards spokesperson David Lane said.
Internal Affairs had given a number of “lame duck” excuses for why the board had not been reappointed. “It’s just slackness on the part of the former minister [George Hawkins].”
A spokesperson for Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker said nominations for the board were due in a week or so.
Internal Affairs spokesperson Colin Feslier confirmed “initial terms” for eight members ended in May 2004, but their continance was permissible.
Legislative amendments last year included a plan to reduce the board’s numbers, so reappointments were halted, he said. “The terms just continue if a further appointment isn’t made.”
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