Censorship
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General and Censorship
The Standing Committee of the Attorneys-General (SCAG) oversees the National Classification Scheme for film and video and for printed material. The National Classification Scheme (Scheme) was established following recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission about censorship procedure in 1991 (Report No. 55). One of these recommendations included that a legislative framework be established that would enable the Commonwealth, States and Territories to take a national approach to classification. These jurisdictions entered into the Intergovernmental Agreement on Censorship, which underpins the Scheme. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Censorship requires that certain changes to the National Classification Scheme must be considered and agreed to by all Censorship Ministers.
The Scheme commenced on 1 January 1996 and is a cooperative arrangement under which the Classification Board classifies films (including videos and DVDs), computer games and certain publications. Under the Scheme, the States and Territories are responsible for the enforcement of classification decisions. Each State and Territory has classification enforcement legislation that complements the Commonwealth Classification Act. For further information on the Scheme, click here.
In most jurisdictions, Attorneys-General are also Ministers responsible for Censorship. The only exception is in the Commonwealth, where the Minister responsible for Censorship is the Minister for Home Affairs.
Current issues
R 18+ Classification for Computer Games
SCAG has been considering proposals for the introduction of an R 18+ classification for computer games. Most recently, in July 2011, Ministers made a decision in principle, to introduce an R 18+ category for computer games. NSW abstained.
Ministers:
(a) agreed to take the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer games, as amended at the meeting, to their respective Cabinets
(b) agreed in principle, with the exception of the NSW Attorney General who abstained, that the Commonwealth introduce the proposed amendments to the National Classification Code to support the introduction of an R 18+ category
(c) agreed, with the exception of the NSW Attorney General who abstained, to commence drafting amendments to their enforcement legislation to reflect the introduction of an R 18 + category for computer games
(d) agreed that it would be desirable for classifications of existing games to be reviewed in light of the new classification Guidelines.
On 10 August 2011, the NSW Government announced its in principle support for the introduction of an R 18+ classification for computer games.
Background
The Commonwealth Government has undertaken public consultation on this issue. On 14 December 2009, the Commonwealth Government released a discussion paper and sought submissions on whether the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R 18+ classification category for computer games. Submissions closed on 28 February 2010 and a report on the consultation was publicly released. A national telephone poll was also undertaken. For further information on this consultation, including its outcomes, click here.
On 25 May 2011, the Commonwealth Government released proposed draft Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games and sought public comment. This consultation closed on 15 July 2011. For more information about this consultation click here.
Contact:
Standing Committee of Attorneys-General
Natalie Marsic
Executive Officer
Telephone: 02 8061 9325
Facsimile: 02 9231 0351
Email: Natalie_Marsic@agd.nsw.gov.au
Downloads
Censorship Ministers' Decisions
To view Censorship Ministers' decisions after April 2009, please go to SCAG Decisions.
Annual Reports
To view Annual Reports after 2008-2009, please go to SCAG Annual Reports.
Useful Links
Classification Website
http://www.classification.gov.au/
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