Page 1006 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 1990
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opinion survey presented to that Commonwealth committee are also worth looking at. They showed that 31 per cent of the respondents to that public opinion survey thought that there should be greater censorship of R-classified films. That is about one-third. But what is interesting is that the overwhelming reason those people gave was that they thought R-classified material was too violent.
Clearly, there is substantial concern in the community about this issue. As I have said, it seems to me to be a concern that has been expressed over and over again quite wrongly in relation to X-rated videos. I believe it is appropriate that we question the level of violence being portrayed in films and videos and whether the classifications really are appropriate, not just in R-rated material which is the most graphic and violent, but also in all categories.
The motion that I have put before the Assembly requests the Commonwealth to review the guidelines for the portrayal of violence. I commend this motion to the Assembly because I think it goes to the heart of the matter - that is, not the distribution of the videos, who can sell them and who cannot, who can see them and who cannot, but what is actually in them. The nub of this whole matter is what is in the videos, what is acceptable and the impact of the portrayals in videos on other people in our community, particularly children.
I think the motion is also appropriate because it refers to the appropriate body. The Commonwealth, as you know, maintains responsibility for censorship. It sets these guidelines and controls the classification that is given to videos. I believe it is the Commonwealth's job therefore to have a look at its own guidelines and to keep under review the implementation of those guidelines in relation to videos in particular. I believe that it is quite appropriate for this Assembly to make this request to the Commonwealth.
I would simply commend the motion to the Assembly. I am half expecting an amendment here congratulating the Government on having done it already. I have been waiting with bated breath, but I have not seen an amendment yet. I think that the motion stands on its own. I commend it to the Assembly and I trust that it will attract bipartisan support.
DR KINLOCH (12.19): Mr Speaker, you will recall that there was a Bill introduced last year about classification labels. It was not about what we thought of X-rated, R-rated, PG or whatever; it was to do with the technical labelling of films. At that time I recall saying that I would very much like to worry about the degrees of violence in films. I am glad of another opportunity to say that and to support some - although not all - of the views put forward by Ms Follett in this motion. We, of course, support this motion and I hope there will be clear bipartisan support for it.
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