Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Industry Self-Classification and Other Measures) Bill 2023. I thank the member for Cowper for his contribution.

'Intense, passionate and deeply emotional, a sense of raw determination and strength, capturing the essence of a man driven by a burning desire for freedom and justice.' These words could have been written about many in this place, but they are from a review describing the phenomenal performance of Mel Gibson as William Wallace in 1995's Braveheart. Gibson portrays Wallace as a brave and charismatic Scottish leader, inspiring his people to fight for freedom. He gains numerous victories against the English, becoming a legendary figure like a 13th century Dave Warner—although I'm sure David would hope for a more peaceful and less divisive end to his life.

1995 may feel like yesterday to many of us in this place—although not all, judging by some of the youngsters on this side of the House in particular. Although the time may feel like it has passed in the blink of an eye, technology has come a long way in 28 years. As well as Braveheart, 1995 brought us The Usual Suspects; 12 Monkeys; Babe, the talking pig; Tom Hanks being shot into space in Apollo 13 and then being grounded as Woody in Toy Story's first outing; and the movies Sevendon't open the box!—and Bad Boys. VHS was king and video rental stores were big business in every shopping mall. Kids these days will never know of the tantalising wait for a video to rewind or a computer game cassette to load. As for the internet, dial-up was still king and just 10 per cent of Australians were using the net.

1995 is when the National Classification Scheme was established, and it's remained largely unchanged. Technology has moved on, but our National Classification Scheme remains stuck in the past like a tape caught in the old head unit. We've moved a long way from those days. Movies, TV shows and social media are available 24/7 on demand. No longer is the TV in the front room the only screen in the house, where families would gather together for a shared experience and, for young ones, a managed experience. Now most households have multiple screens: TVs, desktop computers, tablets, laptops and smartphones, all connected all the time to multiple avenues for film, TV, social media and gaming. Families share their viewing less, and children's viewing is less supervised and curated. Limiting the kids' access to content deemed unsuitable is a never-ending and laborious task, completely undermined, at the end of the day, by our kids' ability to watch what their parents don't want them to on their friends' devices. As technology has advanced and entertainment options have expanded, the need for a robust classification system has become more evident. There is more content created than ever before, and it's being created more quickly and getting to market more quickly. So how can the Classification Board possibly cope with cobwebbed guidelines last substantially changed 28 years ago?

Film classification boards play a vital role in empowering audiences, protecting artistic freedom and ensuring responsible entertainment. Australian families rely on classifications to make informed choices about what they and those they care for watch, read and play. The classification system helps parents, guardians and consumers make informed decisions about the suitability of movies and games for different age groups. It ensures that children's exposure to unsuitable content can be curated and limited. The system serves as a guide for consumers, allowing them to choose content that aligns with their preferences, sensitivities and values. It empowers individuals to make choices based on their comfort level with certain themes or content. Some content may be potentially harmful or distressing for certain audiences, such as young children or individuals with specific sensitivities. The system can help to safeguard these vulnerable groups from exposure to potentially harmful material or, indeed, unwanted material. The classification system promotes consistency and uniformity in the entertainment industry. It helps studios and developers understand the appropriate content to include in their creations for specific audiences and to avoid potential controversies or legal issues.

Having a transparent classification system builds trust between content creators and consumers. It provides clarity about the content's nature and prevents any misunderstandings or misinformation, and it demonstrates that the entertainment industry takes its social responsibilities seriously. It shows there is a commitment to protecting audiences from content that may not be suitable for those audiences.

Film is more than mere entertainment; it is an integral part of our cultural and historical heritage. Some films hold immense historical value, reflecting the mindset and sentiments of the past. Film classification boards play a crucial role in preserving these artefacts and ensuring their accessibility to future generations. By categorising classic films appropriately, film classification boards ensure that these treasures can be enjoyed responsibly by all audiences. They help educate younger viewers about our cultural heritage, our changing values and the evolution of storytelling in cinemas. With access to more content at the click of a button than we've ever had before, it's important that we update our classification system.

In March, the Albanese government committed to a process of reform to improve and modernise our classification system for the modern user and modern day media. It will be a two-stage process. As online content increases, with largely foreign owned streaming services vastly outnumbering live TV channels from traditional free-to-air broadcasters, we need a modern way to deal with classifications for this content without relying on the Classification Board to deal with the waves of new online content.

This bill supports the implementation of the first stage of this process by introducing a number of changes to modernise the system. These changes will help us improve the capacity to deal with large volumes of online content, increase access to cultural content and promote industry compliance. This bill will make the classification system fit for purpose for modern day media by expanding options for the industry to self classify content to make it easier for content providers, particularly online content providers, to comply with classification regulations and reduce classification time frames and costs for business. It will provide appropriate safeguards and oversight by expanding the Classification Board's powers to quality-assure, and revoke where necessary, self-classification decisions. Eligibility criteria will be put in place to ensure that only fit and proper people can be accredited to classify content. We'll expand exemptions from classification for low-risk cultural content, including films in languages other than English, being distributed through public libraries that will be classified at the G or PG level, as well as content that is displayed by approved cultural institutions as part of routine exhibitions and events. And we'll improve the efficiency of the classification system by removing the requirement to reclassify material that has already been classified under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. Moving to only needing to classify content once will remove a huge barrier in terms of time and convenience to broadcasters.

This first stage of changes will enable us to work with key stakeholders when we implement more comprehensive reforms in the second stage of the proposed bill that will establish fit-for-purpose regulatory and governance arrangements and ensuring the criteria are aligned with evolving community expectations and guidelines.

A modern classification system will strike the right balance between expressing creative freedom and respecting community standards. A modern Classification Board will empower audiences by providing information to help them make informed choices. Balancing these roles, classification boards contribute to a responsible and enriching experience for all. Their commitment to preserving cultural heritage, educating audiences and maintaining the balance between artistic freedom and social norms makes them indispensable allies to both creators and audiences. I commend the bill to the House.

See this speech in context