Those under 15 years of age will now be able to see Ned Kelly without being accompanied by an adult following a decision by Australia's five-member Classification Review Board to classify the film M15+ rather than the tougher MA15+ originally imposed after a split vote.

The film is recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over under its new classification but this is advisory rather than legally binding as previously.

The film will carry the consumer advice "medium level violence" and "adult themes" when distributor UIP releases it on Thursday.

The Office of Film and Literature Classification officially launches its new classification guidelines this Friday. For the first time they apply to both films and computer games.