Adjudication No. 601 (October 1992) [1992] APC 71

ADJUDICATION NO. 601 (October 1992)

The Press Council has dismissed a complaint against the Sunraysia Daily over the publication of a reader's letter critical of any suggestion that homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the Australian Defence Forces.

The letter used what are generally regarded as offensive slang terms, "cow's hoof" and "limp wristers", and referred to a suggested new army order of "eyes rear", in making objections to what the writer saw as "happening to the Australia we once knew".

The Council believes that the letter used objectionable language and the position adopted by the writer could have been expressed in non-offensive terms.

Nevertheless, the provocative language is used by a section of the community and the paper's use of the letter reflects the views of that section.

The Council notes that the paper later published two letters critical of the original letter and one from the original writer defending his position in more reasonable terms.

The Press Council believes that in general the freedom to express opinions is more important than the problems of the offence such opinions may engender.