Submission on the National Classification Scheme Review Discussion Paper to the Australian Law Reform Commission GPO Box 3708, SYDNEY NSW 2001 Telephone: 02 8238 6333 Facsimile: 02 8238 6363 Email: [email protected] Website: www.alrc.gov.au by FamilyVoice Australia 4th Floor, 68 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000 Telephone: 1300 365 965 Facsimile: 08 8223 5850 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fava.org.au 21 November 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1. Chapter 4: Guiding Principles for Reform ................................................................... 1 2. Proposal 5–1 A new National Classification Scheme ................................................... 2 3. Proposal 5–2 The National Classification Scheme should be based on a new Classification of Media Content Act ............................................................................... 3 4. Proposal 5-3 A single regulator ..................................................................................... 3 5. Proposal 5-4 Platform neutral definitions .................................................................... 4 6. Proposal 6-1 All feature films and commercial television programs to be classified 4 7. Proposal 6-2 Computer games ....................................................................................... 5 8. Proposal 6-3 Exempt content ......................................................................................... 6 9. Proposal 6-4 Classification of X18+ films ..................................................................... 6 10. Proposal 6-5 Content that is likely to be Refused Classification (RC) must be classified ........................................................................................................................... 9 11. Proposal 6-6 Classifying material as RC before taking certain actions ................... 10 12. Proposal 6-7 Classifying modified content ................................................................. 10 13. Proposal 6-8 Industry codes of practice for optionally classified content ............... 11 14. Proposal 7-1 Content required to be classified by the Classification Board ........... 15 15. Proposal 7-2 Authorised industry classifiers .............................................................. 15 16. Question 7-1 Classification of X18+ films ................................................................... 16 17. Proposal 7-3 Use of classification instruments ........................................................... 16 18. Proposal 7-4 Authorisation of industry classifiers ..................................................... 17 19. Proposal 7-5 Authorisation of classification instruments ......................................... 18 20. Question 7-2 Who should provide classification training? ....................................... 18 21. Proposal 7-6 Functions of the Classification Board ................................................... 18 22. Proposal 7-7 Powers of the Regulator ......................................................................... 19 23. Proposal 8-1 Restricting access to content likely to be R18+ .................................... 19 FamilyVoice Submission on the National Classification Scheme Review Discussion Paper Page i 24. Proposal 8-2 Restricting access to content classified R18+ or X18+ ........................ 20 25. Proposal 8-3 No mandatory access restrictions to MA15+ content ......................... 20 26. Proposal 8-4 Methods of restricting access to adult media content ......................... 21 26.1 Restricting access to adult and MA15+ content online ............................................................... 22 26.2 Parental locks and user-based filters ........................................................................................... 23 26.3 Restrictions on the display and sale of print publications and other hardcopy items with adult content................................................................................................................................... 23 27. Question 8-1 Time-zone restrictions ........................................................................... 24 28. Proposal 8-5 Display of classification markings......................................................... 26 29. Proposal 8-6 Advertisements for media content ........................................................ 27 30. Proposal 9-1 Classification categories ......................................................................... 27 30.1 A single set of classification categories ......................................................................................... 28 30.2 Age references in classification categories ................................................................................... 28 30.3 The proposed Teen classification category .................................................................................. 29 30.4 The R18+ and MA15+ classification categories .......................................................................... 30 30.5 Classification of print publications .............................................................................................. 30 31. Proposal 9-2 The C classification ................................................................................ 31 31.1 Examples of films classified G under the 2003 Guidelines ......................................................... 32 31.1.1The Cat in the Hat (File No. T03/2081) ................................................................................ 32 31.1.2Love’s Brother (File No. T03/3145) ..................................................................................... 32 31.1.3Finding Nemo (File No. T03/5) ............................................................................................ 32 31.1.4Prisoner of Paradise (File No. T03/2309) ............................................................................ 32 31.1.5Ned (File No. T03/1191) ....................................................................................................... 33 32. Proposal 9-3 Consumer advice .................................................................................... 33 33. Proposal 9-4 Statutory classification criteria ............................................................. 33 34. Proposal 9-5 Regular review of community standards ............................................. 34 35. Proposal 10-1 Refused classification category ............................................................ 34 35.1 Suicide related material ................................................................................................................ 35 35.2 Actual sex ....................................................................................................................................... 36 36. Proposal 11-1 Industry classification codes of practice ............................................. 36 37. Proposal 11-2 Matters to be included in codes of practice ........................................ 37 FamilyVoice Submission on the National Classification Scheme Review Discussion Paper Page ii 38. Proposal 11-3 Regulator approval of codes of practice ............................................. 37 39. Proposal 11-4 Enforcement powers for codes of practice ......................................... 38 40. Question 12-1 Complaints-handling function ............................................................ 39 41. Proposal 12-1 A new Regulator ................................................................................... 40 42. Proposal 13-1 The new Classification of Media Content Act should be enacted pursuant to the legislative powers of the Parliament of Australia. .......................... 41 43. Proposal 13–2 State referrals of power ....................................................................... 41 44. Proposal 14-1 Enforcement under Commonwealth law ........................................... 42 45. Proposal 14-2 New Intergovernmental Agreement ................................................... 42 46. Proposal 14-3 Offences ................................................................................................. 43 47. Proposal 14-4 Penalties ................................................................................................. 43 48. Proposal 14-5 Infringement notice scheme ................................................................. 44 49. References ...................................................................................................................... 44 FamilyVoice Submission on the National Classification Scheme Review Discussion Paper Page iii Introduction On 24 March 2011, Attorney-General Robert McClelland referred the National Classification Scheme to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) and asked it to conduct widespread public consultation across the community and industry. The review is to consider issues including existing laws; the current classification categories; the rapid pace of technological change; the need to improve classification information available to the community; the effect of media on children and the desirability of a strong content and distribution industry in Australia. The ALRC has released a discussion paper which makes proposals for a new national classification scheme for media content and called for public submissions on the proposals.