Page 2675 - Week 09 - Thursday, 25 August 1994
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for computer games. We have also agreed to make a draft of this legislation available as model legislation for other jurisdictions. The amendments to the Classification of Publications Ordinance 1983, which set up the classification scheme for computer games, came into force on 11 April 1994.
Madam Speaker, the scheme to classify computer games will cover material that is of an interactive computer, or video, game type and material that is of a static computer image type. The issue for classification purposes will be whether an offensive or censorable image is produced. Computer games or images offered for sale, hire or use in a public place would be subject to classification against an agreed set of guidelines. There are two exceptions to the classification proposal. Firstly, bulletin board systems are not regulated under this scheme. The Commonwealth has set up a task force to look into the issue. I have expressed some grave concerns about this because bulletin boards are very difficult technically to regulate and potentially threaten to undermine the scheme. Secondly, business, accounting or educational software is not regulated unless it contains adult-type material.
The new guidelines are to be applied more strictly than those for the classification of films and videos because of the concern that computer games, by their interactive nature, may have greater impact, and therefore greater potential for harm, than a video. This would mean that a video that may receive an M rating would, if it were formatted into a computer game, receive an MA(15+) classification.
To recognise the classification scheme for computer games, the Publications Control Act 1989 is amended to introduce regulatory measures to restrict the display, hire, sale and demonstration of computer games. There will be four classification categories and a refused classification status. The categories, which broadly reflect the film and television categories, are:
G - General, suitable for all ages;
G(8+) - General, recommended for children 8 years and above;
M(15+) - Mature, recommended for persons 15 years and above;
MA(15+) - Mature audience, suitable only for persons 15 years and above where there is restriction on the sale, hire and demonstration of such games; and
Refused classification.
Computer games will be treated in a similar manner to films and videos under the Publications Control Act 1989, with requirements to display markings, regulation of sale, hire and display of games, and restrictions in relation to the advertising of games.
Madam Speaker, because of the concerns surrounding the impact of computer games, the Government has resolved, in relation to the MA(15+) computer games, to prescribe that such games cannot be demonstrated in a public place - this includes exhibit, display, screen, play or make available for playing - unless the game bears the determined
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