Call For More Independant Broadcasting Standards Authority

Party Leader Graham Capill has called for a major review of the Broadcasting Standards Authority after it declined to uphold the Party’s complaint over the programme Queer as Folk.

Mr Capill said, “It would be hard to find a programme that more clearly breached the Broadcasting Codes and yet the BSA still refuses to protect society from such programmes. It appears as if the BSA is nothing but a platform for the larger broadcasters!

“A truly independent Body is needed, which represents ordinary people and defends their concerns, in much the same way that the Commerce Commission protect consumers. There is far too much collusion between broadcasters and the Authority, in my opinion.

“That the BSA can conclude ‘paedophilia was (not) in issue’ despite acknowledging the programme depicted under age sex, is beyond belief. What is it if a twenty year old stalks an under age teenager, if it is not paedophilia? It is certainly further evidence of the Authority’s prejudiced views on matters of morality.

“Also of concern is the way the BSA has summarily concluded that G6 (declining with balance on matters which are controversial) does not apply to dramas. Who is writing the legislation here? On what grounds does it make such a statement? If such a conclusion is correct, society is afforded no protection from every shade of decadence in drama.

“The Authority even seems to condone the use of the “F” word and blasphemy and it does not even support its conclusions that such language does not ‘exceed community expectations’ by referring to its viewers survey on standards. Perhaps the survey supported the Christian Heritage Party’s contention that the ‘F’ word is unacceptable.

“The Christian Heritage Party calls upon the government to give real protection to ordinary people. The current BSA is a Clayton’s kangaroo court that seldom applies the code strictly, other than for personal grievances. Why should “little” people be left fighting the lawyers of large corporates like TVNZ and TV3? It is time to lift the standard of morality but I am not confident that that will happen under the current regime,” Mr Capill concluded.

Christian Heritage is seeking legal advice about reviewing the decision in the High Court.

© Scoop Media