Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition will not be supporting the amendment. This item provides that, when making a classification regarding a publication, film or computer game that advocates the doing of a terrorist attack, ‘consideration must be given to the likely impact of the material, based on an assessment of the class of persons to or amongst whom the material is to be, or is intended to be, or is likely to be published’. Currently no such requirement exists in the material and its likely impact vis-a-vis certain groups is uncertain. Labor is opposed to this amendment on the grounds that, although the material may be likely to be accessed by only one group, it does not mean that it cannot be accessed by other groups as well. It is far better that the classification laws take a more universal test by looking at material in the whole context, rather than through the lens of a certain group. It is not a matter that was explored significantly in the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and it did not eventuate in a recommendation from them.