Page 3366 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011
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entertainment choice and who now wish to access material that is available in other jurisdictions around the world but not currently available in Australia for sale.
Of course, the challenge with this is that a large amount of this material can be accessed through other means. For example, it can be accessed through online gaming platforms, it can be accessed over the internet—it can be accessed in a range of other ways. So the challenge for the ACT, as it has been for all jurisdictions, is to recognise that this material is already available, although it is not available with a classification rating to guide decision making by parents and young people about—
Mr Hargreaves: A point of order, Mr Speaker. Could you stop the clock, please?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves: Could I ask you to remind those opposite of those people who are on a warning, because there is a cacophony of sound that I can’t get over.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. We will continue with the answer to Dr Bourke’s question. I will continue to monitor the chamber.
MR CORBELL: For this reason, the ACT government has been a strong supporter of introducing an R18+ classification for computer games. We have supported this approach because we recognise that it is important, in a democratic society, for people to be able to view this material, but also because a classification regime will ensure that those young people who should not be viewing the material cannot be viewing the material and, equally importantly, that their parents are given information and education about what material should and should not be made available to them. That, of course, cannot occur in the current situation where an R18 classification does not exist, and in an environment where that material is being made available through other means, such as online gaming platforms.
For that reason, the government continue to support the introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games, and we have, of course, seen positive developments on that in recent months.
MR SPEAKER: Dr Bourke, a supplementary question?
DR BOURKE: Attorney, what has been the ACT government’s position in relation to the proposed R18+ classification category for computer games?
MR CORBELL: At the most recent meeting of attorneys-general in Adelaide in the last month or so, agreement was reached amongst all jurisdictions to establish an R18+ classification for computer games. All jurisdictions, including conservative jurisdictions such as Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, have agreed to introduce an R18+ classification for computer games.
The ACT, as I have already stated, has always supported the introduction of an R18+ classification because it would ensure that games with adult content are sold only to adults and that purchasers are fully aware of the content and the impact of the games.
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