The Act sets out a three tier system for rating and classifying films and a two tier system for other publications that fall outside the definition of a film. The definition of a film includes video recordings, computer games and other mediums with moving visual images. The labels provide information on the rating or classification of the film. At the first tier is the labelling body . This organisation is set up to issue labels for films that are intended to be made available to the public.
Ratings provide consumer information on the audience suitability of films.
The labelling body bases many of its ratings on classifications assigned by overseas censorship authorities. The labelling body is unable to assign a rating to restricted-level films. It must submit these to the Office of Film and Literature Classification for classification. If someone disagrees with a rating assigned by the labelling body, they can submit the film concerned to the Classification Office. The second tier is the Classification Office , which examines and classifies publications.