New classification for violent cartoons to be proposed to Censorship Ministers

10/7/96

Violent cartoons on television would have a new classification under a proposal to be put forward to Censorship Ministers by Western Australia's Minister with responsibility for Censorship Matters, Cheryl Edwardes.

Mrs Edwardes, speaking on the eve the Federal and State Censorship Ministers' conference in Sydney, said she expected the proposal to be well-received.

"Some violent cartoons are not suitable for children under the age of eight and it is a matter which has been of concern for some time," she said.

"What I am proposing is an advisory notice warning parents that some cartoons may not be appropriate for children under the age of eight."

The G8 category has been applied to computer games by the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Possible cartoons which could receive the G8 advisory notice would be 'Ren and Stimpy', 'Itchy and Scratchy' and 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'.

"I have been lobbying the Federal Government since 1994 to bring to the attention of the television networks the level of violence which appears in some programmes, particularly cartoons," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Censorship Ministers introduced the G8 classification for some computer games when it was recognised that some of the violence which was depicted in these games would be disturbing to children younger than eight.

"Cartoons on television contain material similar to some of the G8 computer games. Common sense suggests that if a 30-second television advertisement can change attitudes and buying habits, then full-length programs with violence must have an impact.

"According to reports from the United States, psychologists believe children are most vulnerable to television from the ages of two to eight, after which they become more capable of distinguishing what they see on the screen from reality."

Mrs Edwardes said she was not proposing to force television networks to change programming but to allow parents to make an informed choice as to what their children should watch.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777