Page 3132 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 20 September 1994
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In fact we have here, on the one hand, a system of classifying so as to exclude the availability or X- and R-rated material on computer games - and that is supported by the Labor Government. On the other hand, we have X-rated video material which is freely available and should be freely available to citizens of the Territory. I must say that the logic escapes me. I will acknowledge what I think is obvious to everybody: This decision was not arrived at through a process of the Government simply making up its mind and sticking with a consistent line of thought; rather, it was arrived at by pressure from the Commonwealth Government.
Items in the media reported a telephone call between Mr Keating and Ms Follett which produced a very rapid change of policy on the part of the ACT Government. I suppose that we should be grateful for that; but, still, Madam Speaker, I think it begs a very serious question: How is it that we can continue to say that one aspect of this kind of regime should acknowledge, to quote the Minister, the need to "protect people and children in particular from offensive or disturbing material", when another part of the same regime in fact makes no attempt to provide such protection? I think, Madam Speaker, there is an issue here. The Minister makes the point, in defence of that inconsistency, which he acknowledges, that computer games are interactive, in that one can manipulate the images on the screen by use of the keyboard or the mouse; whereas, generally speaking, videos are not interactive. That is true but, I contend, does not constitute a sufficient reason to distinguish between those two cases.
I would like to think the little scheme that the Government is talking about here to bring the measures into a national framework, so that it is part of a nationally agreed plan, might mean, in effect, that the Government would consistently oppose X-rated material in all its forms. I am not especially hopeful of that, but I think that would be an acceptable outcome - indeed, a very desirable outcome. In the meantime, Madam Speaker, we will have to put up with merely having this inconsistency on our plate and, in due course, dealing with the other issue when the occasion arises. Mr Stevenson, no doubt, will at some point wish to raise the issue again.
Madam Speaker, for the most part, this Bill complements the Publications Control Ordinance of the Commonwealth, which has been applied to the Territory by dint of the Commonwealth's power to make legislation for the Territory in this area. It has reserved to itself the exclusive right to legislate for the Territory in respect of the classification of material. We, of course, have to decide what we will do with each particular classification; but the way in which classification occurs cannot be, in fact, done by the ACT, as I understand it. So, Madam Speaker, this is the framework in which we are working.
The legislation is supported by the Opposition. Of course, it does extend the protection to young people, in particular. I think, Madam Speaker, the next logical step is for the Government to act similarly on X-rated videos, and I look forward to that step being taken at some point in the, hopefully, near future.
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