CANBERRA - The writer who revealed photographer Bill Henson scouted a primary school playground for models says he can't see what the problem is.
David Marr wrote a book about the furore which blew up around Henson's photographs of naked children, in which he described Henson's visit tothe Melbourne primary school.
The revelation has sparked another round of controversy over Henson's work.
"I don't see what the problem is so long as the protocols are followed and so long as it is the parents who decide," Marr told ABC Radio today.
"This is a man who at the time was regarded as an unimpeachable, leading artist in this country, being taken by a school principal into a playground and suddenly it is this monstrous horror."
"There's nothing unusual about artists going into schools, there's nothing unusual about casting agents for film and television going in there."
Marr, who is also a journalist, said there was a system of "talent spotting" in schools where people were allowed to look around for talent, without the prior consent of parents.
He defended Henson's selection of a boy during the playground visit, who was later photographed shirtless.
"The child was photographed with the full consent of his parents ... he was not photographed at the school."
"The boy was not photographed naked, he's got his shirt off."
The latest round of the Henson debate has led to a split between Marr and fellow Fairfax columnist Miranda Devine, who has today written a story criticising people she describes as apologists for Henson.
Marr took issue with Devine's comments.
"I'll be having a couple of words to Miranda face to face when I get back to Sydney," he said.
