Speaking at the Game-Tech conference today in Sydney, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor briefly discussed the ongoing Classification Review and provided an insight into the Gillard Government’s intentions with regards to the future of classification in Australia. The overarching point? Classification must be “clear, simple and consistent”.
“Computer games along with other forms of media interaction are portable, ubiquitous and networked,” claimed O’Connor, “and that will have a huge influence on the future of video game classification and content regulation more generally.
“That’s why the government understands that they have the responsibility to deliver reforms that achieve the important objective of minimising the regulatory burden on industry. In 1996 when the current legislation that underpins the national classification scheme came into effect it was based on what now seems to be an old fashioned paradigm.”
“We recognise that convergence and globalisation has revolutionised the way people access information and entertainment,” he continued. “That’s why we’ve taken a pro-active approach to ensure that the classification system keeps pace with technological change and other changes in the marketplace.”
“We need to come up with clear, simple and consistent rules for classification that can adapt to any media content and distribution platform.”
We couldn’t agree more.
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