Creation of 'MA' classification for films and videos

23/9/93

Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes has introduced legislation into State Parliament aimed at reducing the exposure of children to graphically violent and sexually explicit films and videos. 

The Censorship Laws Amendment Bill 1993 creates an 'MA' classification for films and videos in Western Australia. 

Mrs Edwardes said the 'MA' classification reflected community concern over the classification of some films. 

"This concern is largely based on the current 'M' classification - where films such as 'Crocodile Dundee' and 'My Left Foot' have the same classification as 'Cape Fear' and 'Silence of the Lambs'," she said. 

"At present, a film or video is classified as 'M' where the Censor is of the opinion that the material cannot be recommended for viewing by persons under the age of 15 years. 

"The proposed amendments will instead distinguish between films and videos which are at the lower end of the existing 'M' classification - such as 'Crocodile Dundee' - and those at the higher end which will be classified as 'MA'." 

Mrs Edwardes said a film or video would receive the 'MA' classification if it contained depictions of sex, violence or coarse language deemed to be unsuitable for viewing by those under 15 years of age. 

Children under 15 would be refused admission to an 'MA' film and be unable to hire or purchase a video with an 'MA' classification unless they were accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Mrs Edwardes said the amendments specifically placed the onus upon a parent or guardian to take responsibility if a child was to gain access to 'MA' films or videos. 

"If the onus had just been left at 'adult' this would have allowed older brothers, sisters, boyfriends and girlfriends to take children to see these films or hire videos," she said.

Mrs Edwardes said the legislation also contained a number of other changes - such as simplified definitions for film and video classifications, and changing the definition of children in the existing legislation from persons under 16 years of age to 15 years. 

"This legislation, in particular the creation of the 'MA' classification, is a worthy step in the efforts being made to reduce the exposure of our young children to violent or graphic material," the Minister said. 

"Only recently I read that by the time children reach 14 years of age it is estimated that they have witnessed 15,000 acts of violence on television alone. 

"I find this extremely disturbing and this adds to the concerns expressed to me during my recent trip to New Zealand where a criminologist I spoke to had little doubt that film and video game violence had contributed to the violent behaviour of some young offenders. 

"As a society we have a responsibility to address this problem - and the creation of the 'MA' classification will go some way towards doing that." 

Media contact:  Casey Cahill 222 9595