Dr Philip Nitschke to address censorship and banned books

Dr Philip Nitschke, author of the controversial book The Peaceful Pill, will be among guest speakers at a seminar on censorship at the University of Melbourne this evening at 5.15pm.

Other speakers include the director of the Classification Board Dr Donald McDonald on current censorship policies and practices, Associate Professor Robert Nelson on censorship in art with reference to the Serrano and Henson ’affairs’, Associate Professor Richard Pennell on censorship and sedition with reference to the banning of some jihadist literature from Australian libraries, and Dr Lauren Rosewarne speaking on sexual perversion and the politics of censorship in Australia.

Dr Nitschke’s The Peaceful Pill was first published in 2007 and is currently banned from sale in Australia. In 2006 it was given Restricted Class 1 status by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) making it unlawful to be sold to consumers under the age of 18. Following an appeal, the OFLC upgraded the rating in 2007 to Refused Classification, making any print editions of the book banned from sale in Australia.

It is one of a collection of books, photographs, documents and original artworks featured in an exhibition - ‘Banned Books in Australia’ - currently on display in the University of Melbourne’s Baillieu Library.

Dr Nitschke has argued that censorship of printed material to adults invariably causes more harm than good in society and says his book provides ‘accurate end of life information that prevents uninformed people becoming more desperate, taking risks, using the wrong drugs in the wrong amounts, or more tragically using the commonest method employed by the over 80s ’ to hang themselves’.

He will argue for an individual’s right-to-life choices information.

What: Forum on Censorship in Australia
When: Thursday 12 August at 5.15pm for 5.30-7.30pm
Where: Leigh Scott Room, 1st Floor, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne Parkville Campus

‘Banned Books in Australia’ is on show until 29 August in the Baillieu Library.