Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Online Games) Bill 2011

This Senate report reviews amendments to how mobile device and online computer games are classified, and recommends these amendments be passed. On 3 November 2011, the Senate referred the provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Online Games) Bill 2011 (Bill) to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) for inquiry and report by 14 March 2012. Purpose of the Bill: Mobile device and online games are regulated as computer games under the National Classification Scheme, a cooperative scheme between the Commonwealth, and the states and territories. Decisions on the classification of publications, films and computer games are made pursuant to the processes set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth) (Classification Act), and the sale, demonstration and advertising of this material is regulated by state and territory laws. The Explanatory Memorandum (EM) to the Bill notes that consumers now have access to an increasing number and range of computer games on a variety of platforms including on mobile devices and other network services. The National Classification Scheme, however, was not designed to cater for the classification of these types of computer games