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8 October 2001
Office of Film and Literature Classification
Guidelines Review 2001
Locked Bag 3
Haymarket 1240
Review of the classification guidelines for films and computer games
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the consultations on the Review of the Classification Guidelines for films and computer games. ALIA is the professional association for the library and information sector. ALIA represents 6500 personal members, 800 institutional members and 10 million library users.
ALIA supports the revision of the classification guidelines and the focus on broader classification issues. One of the objectives of classification is to recognise the balance between freedom of expression and community standards. However, ALIA would like to make the following comments.
Issues for comment
- Should there be a uniform national approach, including a single set of classification standards, for the classification of entertainment media?
ALIA favours the creation of a classification system which represents the interests of the community and seeks to ensure that equity of access to information is not compromised, while still being responsive to community concerns relating to films and computer games. ALIA supports the streamlining of criteria that apply to films and computer games as a straight-forward and consistent approach to classification will be easier for the community to interpret and understand. However, ALIA would not support a model that is intended to tighten censorship. Therefore, the criteria that currently apply to film should also be applied to computer games.
- Should there be a single, consistent set of classification symbols and categories?
ALIA supports the idea of a single consistent set of classifications symbols and categories. A single meaning for each classification categoriy will assist consumer understanding and would make it much easier for consumers to make decisions on suitability of material for minors.
- Are there other issues related to the effective operation of the guidelines which should be considered in the review?
ALIA supports the general principles that adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want and that minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them. The research undertaken by Computer Games and Australians Today demonstrates that there is no evidence that members of the community perceive computer games as a major social problem, and none of the independent research published to date has demonstrated serious effects of aggressive game play upon young people's behaviour. Adults play computer games and should have the choice to play a game that is for adults only. Attempting to restrict content based on locally-based community standards can be divisive, counterproductive and essentially unworkable. Computer games should be treated and classified the same as other media. The OFLC has only received a small number of complaints regarding computer games. This would seem to support the findings of Computer Games and Australians Today that computer games are not a major issue for the Australian public. Therefore, computer games should be treated and classified the same as any other material and the ban on R-rated and X-rated computer games should be lifted.
Summary
Regulation of content is an important issue for the library and information services sector. ALIA believes that library and information services have particular responsibilities in supporting and sustaining the free flow of information and ideas including:
- catering for interest in contemporary issues without promoting or suppressing particular beliefs and ideas;
- resisting attempts by individuals or groups within their communities to restrict access to information and ideas while at the same time recognising that powers of censorship are legally vested in state and federal governments;
- observing laws and regulations governing access to information and ideas but working towards the amendment of those laws and regulations which inhibit library and information services in meeting their obligations and responsibilities.
If you have any queries or require any further information about our response, please contact me on 02 6215 8214.
Yours sincerely
Jennefer Nicholson
Executive director
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