‘Safe Sex’ Programme Defended By Producer (Press, 28 September 1989)

In a news story from 28 September 1989, tensions arise over a television special titled "Safer Sex," set to air on TVNZ Channel Two. The show's producer, Dave Gibson, asserts that he has no concerns about potential breaches of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act, despite criticisms from moral campaigner Miss Patricia Bartlett. Bartlett and her Society for the Promotion of Community Standards are urging parents to contact the police if their children under 16 watch the programme without their permission, as they believe it will contravene legal restrictions regarding advice on contraceptive use for minors. Miss Bartlett claims that segments of the show, which include instructions on buying and fitting condoms, could be illegal. However, Gibson contends that he and TVNZ have thoroughly consulted legal experts and had determined that the programme complies with the law. He dismisses Bartlett's objections as a reactionary stance, noting that the focus of the show is on utilising condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, rather than solely as a contraceptive measure. This distinction, he argues, contributes to the legality of the broadcast. The programme is designed specifically for a younger audience and is slated for prime time viewing at 8.35 p.m. It will feature a studio audience of young individuals learning about condom application using props, alongside discussions on healthy sexual relationships and tips for avoiding venereal diseases. Additionally, the show aims to empower young women to assertively decline unwanted sexual advances. In response, Miss Bartlett expresses her disapproval, suggesting that the portrayal of sexuality in the programme is inappropriate and vulgar, and claims that only a minor part of the content addresses the issue of abstaining from sex. She states that if her organisation had greater financial resources, they would pursue an injunction against the broadcast. In her view, TVNZ and the Health Department, which partly funds the programme, should prioritise promoting chastity as an effective measure against venereal diseases instead. Bartlett's organisation is also awaiting a decision from the Broadcasting Tribunal regarding a complaint against a previous British programme on A.I.D.S., which aired in 1987. At that time, the former Broadcasting Corporation of TVNZ dismissed her complaint, stating that it did not violate standards for good taste and decency. The controversy surrounding "Safer Sex" points to a broader societal tension over sexual education and the rights of young people in New Zealand.

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