Magazine under fire for bondage photo shoot

'Sinister' images of bondage scenes prompted a complaint to the Censor's Office. Photo / Thinkstock

A magazine is under fire for showing young topless women tied to beds and ceilings like "animals" in a Valentine's Day-themed photo shoot.

Vice has been reported to the Censor's Office by the Green Party for publishing the images under the title "All Tied Up In Love".

In one image, a girl's bound feet appear to be turning purple, while another shows two girls "trussed up" like animals, Green women's affairs spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty says.

About 12,000 copies of the free magazine are available at clothing and music stores and cafes - with no age restrictions on who can take them.

"The girls look very young and they are depicted in situations that look violent or sinister," Delahunty says.

"Bondage between consenting adults is fine but that imagery doesn't suggest that kind of empowering experience at all."

Under the 1993 Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act, an individual supplying a restricted publication to underage people can be sentenced to three months in prison or a fine of $10,000.

A company in breach of the law can be fined up to $30,000.

Australia-New Zealand Vice editor Royce Akers said all models used in the shoot were aged over 21.

"Vice's audience is men and women aged 21-35," he said.

"We work very hard to ensure that they see the magazine and pick it up at places that they frequent - bars, clubs, hotels, high-end clothing stores; locations that in general someone who is underage would not set foot into."

A spokesman for the Office of Film and Literature Classification said images like those depicted in Vice had been given age restrictions.

US photographer Richard Kern, who has shot musician Marilyn Manson and actor Nick Nolte, said he came up with the concept for the images.

"I was surprised that Vice ran those shots. They had one on the cover but took it off.

"I understand that they show women in compromising states and that 'concerns were raised' but there are photos like this all over the place and, like it or not, this is a practice that some people willingly engage in."

Alan Bell, New Zealand director of anti-child exploitation group Ecpat, was concerned the magazines were available without restriction.

"I personally think it is a form of sexual exploitation. I'm not sure if I would say sexual exploitation of children because I'm not aware of the ages - but they are sexually exploiting females."

Rape Prevention education director Kim McGregor said the images were "disturbing".

"The two young women sitting trussed up to the ceiling, they look incredibly young."

Vice, which is published in more than 24 countries, regularly features images of female nudity with models in sexual poses.

If the magazine was given a restricted classification of R16 or R18 by the Censor's Office, distributors would have to ensure it was not given to people under that age.