Page 1009 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 1990
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violent films, and I do hope we can get the message across to the Film Censorship Board from this Assembly that we feel very negative indeed about R-rated violent films.
MR MOORE (12.26): One of the reasons why I was briefly out of the Assembly was to check with the Chief Censor on the rating of the film, Batman. I thought it was an M-rated film and I interjected to that effect during Dr Kinloch's speech. I apologise for that because it was definitely PG-rated. With that PG rating went the consumer advice of "frequent violence".
One of the things that we need to watch is the effect of the new system that is being tried by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. This started on 1 May 1989 and was reported on by the National Committee on Violence. That system is to provide advice to people as to what is contained in films. According to my discussions with the Chief Censor, the reason behind that is that people are shocked and horrified when they come across something that they were not expecting. I believe that happens to all of us. It happened to me, as it did to Dr Kinloch, when I watched Batman. I was certainly not expecting that style of film. I agree with many of the comments that Dr Kinloch made about Batman and had I taken my children to see it, which I had considered doing - it would have been their first-ever film in a theatre - I would have been absolutely horrified.
One of the problems that we have is in consumer advice and, of course, one of the techniques of advice is the M rating, which is a very clear strong statement to parents, in particular, that the film is recommended for mature audiences over 15. It is important for us to recognise that there is a very big difference between the maturity level of a person aged between 15 and 18 - the student in secondary college - and that of a person aged between 10 and 13. That rating has a particular importance.
More important is the reason why films are classified. We should allow the Chief Censor's trial of the new system to run so that parents can see the advice and can know exactly what will be in a film. Then the parents can take the decision about what their children are to watch - and this is our major area of concern. Also, parents will know what they are likely to watch themselves. An advice, which is already printed on the cover of all videos, now goes with films, telling us exactly what is in them. With that, the real responsibility goes back to where it belongs - with parents. Parents can make choices. If there is a movie that is M-rated and the reason given for its M rating is constant violence, then as a parent myself, I would be very careful to ensure that my children did not see it. However, if I considered that a particular film had some special merit, like Clockwork Orange - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Moore! It being 12.30 pm, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77. The member has leave to continue his remarks when the
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