Media censorship should be the authority of the Australian Classification Board (ACB), not virtue signalling big business.

On June 10, Netflix Australia removed four Chris Lilley shows, Summer Heights High, Angry Boys, We Can be Heroes, and Jonah from Tonga, as well as shows from abroad including Little Britain and The Mighty Boosh after criticism of the use of black and brownface characters.

That decision should not have had to come from Netflix. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is responsible for classifying media content before it can legally be made available to the public and they should be responsible for updating their classification systems to meet contemporary criteria. It is the duty of the ACB to create an inclusive viewing environment and protect Australian consumers.

Australian viewers deserve the right to know if media content is racially offensive. We already have advisory classifications for drug use, nudity, profanity, sexual content and violence - it is not such a leap for the ACB to expand the advisory categories to encompass racism. 

By simply adding the appropriate 'trigger warning' rating and subcategory on such content, ie; an Extreme Racism rating, would help advise users on available content.

Regarding Chris Lilley's catalogue, the ACB should provide a racism warning that contributes to the show’s overall rating accordingly.

For example, a warning for ‘Extreme Racism’ for use of brownface may amount to an R rating, and therefore networks and distributors would not be put in a position to have to decide if it is appropriate for distribution on their platform.

It is important that historic entertainment with racially offensive themes is readily available as these works inform us of our past and positions us to better acknowledge our progression. To remove films and television series from circulation as though they never happened is only whitewashing our past.

Many Australians never learn about the Black War, the Australian Frontier Wars, and the systematic genocide of Aboriginal nations. Omitting history is criminal. Even if it's dated entertainment that is unpleasant, it reflects the sentiment of people at the time. If we omit certain artefacts of our media because it is unpleasant, it falsely repositions the history of Australia.

For example, a lot of Australians aren't aware of Barry Humphries’ historic racist works, such as Barry McKenzie Holds His Own. Humphries has not been held accountable as his most problematic films are widely unavailable.

This is irresponsible considering how much of his other content is so readily available and celebrated. 

Do not allow our history to be censored by streaming services. Australia has a  media censorship authority for this specific purpose.

We ask Susan Knowles of the Classification Review Board and Margaret Anderson, Director of the Australian Classification Board to expand the advisory categories to encompass a new advisory category for racism. 

It was racist then, it's still racist now - and we need to take appropriate action.