The Morrison Government is calling on all interested stakeholders and members of the public to have their say on a review of Australian classification regulation to develop a framework that reflects changing technologies and meets community needs.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the existing classification scheme, established in 1995, needs to be modernised to reflect today’s contemporary media environment and the Government welcomes public input into the process.
“Australians are typically early technology adopters and the range of platforms and ways we consume and enjoy media and entertainment has changed dramatically over the last few decades,” Minister Fletcher said.
“I encourage all interested parties to make a submission to help us develop a contemporary framework that meets the needs of industry, and provides appropriate consumer information and protections.”
The review will seek to:
- update the criteria used to classify films, episodic series and computer games to ensure they accurately reflect community standards and information needs;
- redesign classification laws that are fit for the modern content market; and
- develop a framework that provides quality classification information for Australians and their families across media formats.
The review forms part of the Government’s response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Digital Platforms Inquiry to develop a platform-neutral media regulatory framework, including harmonising classification across delivery formats.
The consultation period will continue until 5pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, 19 February 2020.
The discussion paper is available at: www.communications.gov.au/classificationreview
