Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the government’s response to the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill 2014. I seek leave to incorporate the document in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The response read as follows—

Australian Government response to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee report:

Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill 2014

Response to recommendations

The Australian Government has considered the two recommendations made in the Senate Committee's report and provides the following responses.

Recommendation 1

The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.

Australian Government response:

The Bill was passed by Parliament on 28 August 2014 and received Royal Assent on 11 September 2014.

Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that the government ensures that the Bill's implementation and supporting material are clear and understood by stakeholders, in particular information regarding the approval and trial of classification tools, and the appeals process.

Australian Government response: Agreed

The Government continues to inform and consult stakeholders on the reforms provided by the Bill including, where relevant, those who made submissions on the Bill.

For example, the Government has consulted with the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, state and territory governments and community groups on the Minister's Classification (Approved Classification Tools) (Application for Revocation of Classification) Determination 2015, a legislative instrument made under these reforms specifying persons who are eligible to apply for a revocation of a classification made by an approved classification tool and the timeframe under which applications may be made.

All appropriate information about approved classification tools will be made publicly available and all decisions of tools will be published on the National Classification Database.