Page 2764 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 21 November 1989
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"In its present form it would lead to an onslaught of operators in the ACT and it means that anyone could sell X-rated material from their garages or lounge rooms - provided they paid the $50 fee.
"The legislation was put together very quickly and without an understanding of the industry.
"The licensing provisions need tightening to eliminate those which permit unclassified titles to be distributed.
"All our material is classified by the Australian Censor and we pay $280 to have each title classified plus copyright fees and sales tax of 20 per cent.
"We're looking at some further definition of what the Bill describes as a fit and proper person to run an X-rated video distribution business and of what premises are suitable to run the business and in what circumstances the business can and cannot be operated.
"The description of a fit and proper person is at the discretion of the Commissioner of ACT Revenue and we want the Bill to define who and what a fit and proper person is.
"The imposition of the tax is just weeks away and we want to know who is going to get a licence - those of us already in the industry or a flood of new operators from interstate?"
Mike McGregor, of the Mature Media Group, said there were too many gaping holes in the legislation.
"It leaves the gates open for anyone to walk in and set up.
"There is no provision for police checks and the industry knows there will be a flood of underground operators from Sydney into the ACT if the legislation is adopted in its present form.
"People will also be able to operate from garages and the like.
"There has to be controls on the industry and some of the ways of obtaining that is to impose high licence fees, impose strict police controls and to register wholesalers".
Ken Hill, of the Club X chain, said he was not opposed to the levy as long as there was some form of policing.
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