Editing Graffiti (section)

=== Australia ===

[[File:Graffiti tunnel 2009, University of Sydney.jpg|thumb|Graffiti Tunnel, University of Sydney at [[Camperdown, New South Wales|Camperdown]] (2009)]]

Ancient rock art in Australia is seen as a sacred part of First Nations histories, and many of it is legally protected, and some are given National Heritage status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=corporateName=National Museum of Australia; address=Lawson Crescent |first=Acton Peninsula |title=National Museum of Australia - First rock art |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/first-rock-art |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=www.nma.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Tangara T63 with graffiti.png|alt=T set with graffiti |thumb|A [[Sydney Trains T set]] at [[Milsons Point railway station]] with graffiti]]
In an effort to reduce vandalism, many cities in Australia have designated walls or areas exclusively for use by writers. One early example is the "Graffiti Tunnel" located at the [[Camperdown, New South Wales|Camperdown]] Campus of the [[University of Sydney]], which is available for use by any student at the university to tag, advertise, poster, and paint. Advocates of this idea suggest that this discourages petty vandalism yet encourages artists to take their time and produce great art, without worry of being caught or arrested for vandalism or [[trespassing]].<ref name="warrin">{{Cite web|title=Legal Graffiti Wall Rules |publisher=Warringah Council |access-date=25 August 2006 |url=http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/rules.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821083531/http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/rules.htm |archive-date=21 August 2006 }}</ref><ref name="abc">{{Cite news |title=Newcastle beach to get 'legal graffiti' wall |publisher=ABC News Online |date=25 May 2005 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/newcastle/200505/s1376470.htm |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429195909/http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/newcastle/200505/s1376470.htm |archive-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Others disagree with this approach, arguing that the presence of legal graffiti walls does not demonstrably reduce illegal graffiti elsewhere.<ref name="towno">{{Cite news |title=Against the wall |publisher=North Shore:Towns Online.com |date=11 August 2006 |url=http://www.townonline.com/lynnfield/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=555224 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Some local government areas throughout Australia have introduced "anti-graffiti squads", who clean graffiti in the area, and such crews as BCW (Buffers Can't Win) have taken steps to keep one step ahead of local graffiti cleaners.

Many state governments have banned the sale or possession of spray paint to those under the age of 18 ([[age of majority]]). However, a number of local governments in Victoria have taken steps to recognize the cultural heritage value of some examples of graffiti, such as prominent political graffiti. Tough new graffiti laws have been introduced in Australia with fines of up to A$26,000 and two years in prison.

[[Melbourne]] is a prominent graffiti city of Australia with many of its lanes being tourist attractions, such as [[Hosier Lane, Melbourne|Hosier Lane]] in particular, a popular destination for photographers, wedding photography, and backdrops for corporate print advertising. The [[Lonely Planet]] travel guide cites Melbourne's street as a major attraction. All forms of graffiti, including [[sticker]] art, [[poster]], [[stencil]] art, and [[wheatpasting]], can be found in many places throughout the city. Prominent street art precincts include; [[Fitzroy, Victoria|Fitzroy]], [[Collingwood, Victoria|Collingwood]], [[Northcote, Victoria|Northcote]], [[Brunswick, Victoria|Brunswick]], [[St Kilda, Victoria|St. Kilda]], and the CBD, where stencil and sticker art is prominent. As one moves farther away from the city, mostly along suburban train lines, graffiti tags become more prominent. Many international artists such as Banksy have left their work in Melbourne and in early 2008 a [[perspex]] screen was installed to prevent a Banksy stencil art piece from being destroyed, it has survived since 2003 through the respect of local street artists avoiding posting over it, although it has recently had paint tipped over it.<ref name=wato>{{cite web |title=The painter painted: Melbourne loses its treasured Banksy |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/national/the-painter-painted-melbourne-loses-its-treasured-banksy-20081213-6xzy.html |access-date=30 June 2009|date=13 December 2008 }}</ref>