Adjudication No. 1043 (July 1999) [1999] APC 37

ADJUDICATION No. 1043 (July 1999)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Robin Bell against an opinion article, "One small snip for man...", published by The Sun-Herald on 15 May 1999.

In it, the writer presents her opinion of the different attitudes of men and women to the use and responsibility in contraceptive practice.

The headline and cartoon set the tone of the article which is written in a humorous and provocative manner. It is clearly an opinion piece and much of the content is often heard in banter amongst people on social and other occasions.

Mr Bell claims the article describes men as "sex crazed fiends, is offensive, inaccurate and filled with blatant sexual bias and gender based hatred".

The Press Council believes Mr Bell's reaction to be extreme and oversensitive.