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A CHILDREN'S eisteddfod has banned cameras from concerts because it fears pedophiles may target the performers.
They have even banned parents from taking photographs or videos because they want to tighten the net on child pornography.Coffs Harbour and District eisteddfod organisers in NSW blame child protection laws for the ban.
But the state's peak body for children's advocacy said there was nothing in the law to stop parents taking photos of their children.
This has angered parents who just want to take their own pictures after they have spent hours on practicing the acts and making costumes.
Coffs Harbour eisteddfod secretary Janelle Palmer said the television series MythBusters, which investigates urban legends and misconceptions, was one of the reasons behind the move.
She said the show had proven a person's naked body was visible under costumes if a photo was taken with a flash."We want to stop pedophiles," Ms Palmer said.
"We know it's cruel and horrible but that's the way it's going to be."
The rules have been in place for four years but were not enforced.
Ms Palmer said an incident last year in which a photo was taken of students who had changed their names because of custody disputes had prompted them to now enforce the rules.
"Anyone can pay $4 to sit and watch the children and we don't know who the person is," she said.
"The schools are happy to comply and so are 90 per cent of the parents. It's the odd selfish person who wants a photo of little Johnny, not thinking that someone else could come in and take a photo of little Johnny and do whatever with it," she said.
Organisers have hired a professional photographer who will not sell photographs to anyone except parents or teachers.
NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People Gillian Calvert said there were no legal requirements to seek permission to take or publish a photograph of a child.
It is also not an offence to photograph people where the activity is not private, such as in a public place.
She said the only situation where adults cannot photograph children is if taking the photo is abusive to the children or if there is intent to use the photo illegally.
Hi, I can think of nothing more absurd than this article found in Australian newspapers this morning June 7th.
What can be considered pornographic about a bunch of kids in costume on a stage?
I am a mother myself and dearly want to protect all kids from the perverts and freaks out there, but is this going to far?
Padmpani Devi