Kristin Renzenbrink
High Distinction
Willoughby Girls' High School
Censorship the Australian Way: An investigation into Regulation and Freedom

The aim of my Personal Interest Project was to evaluate the ways in which censorship affects an individual’s freedom of expression and their right to freedom of information under the hypothesis “overzealous censorship infringes the rights of individuals to a basic freedom of expression”. Society and institutions of authority have the ability to control and censor material, either through the use of technology or political and media powers. The most widely accepted mores of the community are ultimately what govern the population. If applied too strictly they may restrict the individual’s ability to interact with other members of society and prevent their development towards greater social and cultural literacy. Institutions that censor material ultimately determine the culture of the collective group, which affects the development of moral views via the processes of acculturation and socialisation. These ideas were explored through a cross-cultural comparison of censorship and morality over time.

The PIP focuses on examining the relationship between political correctness and moral development, incorporating Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory, and a study of two prominent freedom of expression ‘issues’ in the censorship debate: Bill Henson’s controversial photography exhibition; and the broad medium of the Internet including its associated regulatory dilemmas.
Through the investigation into the relationship between censorship and the infringement of an individual’s right to freedom of expression, I have come to believe that there is evidence of a stifling of civil liberties as a result of increased societal controls. Examination of censorship practises and human rights, the relationship between censorship and morality over time, the Bill Henson saga, and the regulatory problems of the Internet have demonstrated links between censorship and a restricted freedom of expression. The changing nature of Australian censorship practises over time can be linked to modernising technological influences, such as the Internet. The ability of institutions to utilise their power and authority over individuals has shaped the mores of society through the processes of acculturation and socialisation.

Although I believe the hypothesis ‘overzealous censorship infringes the rights of individuals to a basic freedom of expression’ to be proven valid, the investigation has several limitations. It was conducted on a micro level so the findings may not reflect those of the macro society. The results of the Personal Interest Project may have several interpretations. Despite an attempt to be objective, the influence of a personal context and beliefs is unavoidable, so the interpretation of the project is highly subjective. The majority of primary and secondary research was largely supportive of my hypothesis. However it must be noted that the selection of materials, especially secondary research, was controlled and when viewed under the aim of proving my hypothesis, extremely selective, though an attempt was been made to include a range of perspectives.