Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I would like to thank all those in the chamber who have contributed to the debate on the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Industry Self-Classification and Other Measures) Bill 2023. I also thank members of the opposition for their support of this bill in the House. Australians rely on the National Classification Scheme to make informed choices about the content that they and those in their care watch, read and play, but reform of the scheme is long overdue. The government is committed to reforming the scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose in today's online media environment.

This bill is part of the government's first stage of classification reforms. It expands options for industry to self-classify content with appropriate safeguards and oversight of these decisions by the Classification Board. It also extends exemptions from classification for low-risk cultural content and removes the requirement to reclassify material that has already been classified for broadcast television. These reforms will improve the capacity of the scheme to classify growing volumes of online content and make it easier for industry to comply with classification requirements. It also removes unnecessary duplication and introduces a 'classify once' principle for content that has already been classified for broadcast as a step towards harmonising media regulation for a converged media environment.

These amendments lay the foundation for the further modernisation of the scheme under the government's second stage of classification reforms. A broad-ranging consultation process will be undertaken in coming months to inform the direction of this work. Once again I thank my colleagues for their contributions and commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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