AHISA SUBMISSION

Department of Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts

19 February 2020

Review of Australian classification regulation

In its submission to the review, AHISA records its support for the proposal of the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) that the National Classification Scheme be based on the developmental stages of children.

The submission also advocates for increased protection for children and young people in relation to gambling and digital games. Noting that the classification system is not able to carry the full burden of vigilance of content of digital games, AHISA recommends that consideration be given to industry regulation, especially if industry-based self-classification schemes are broadened. For example, digital game producers opting to self-classify their products could be required to include advisory warnings in their self-classification process, build a capability for parental controls into the product and/or include in game development small, in-time digital interventions such as pop-up messages promoting limit-setting tools and resources.

Submission to the review of Australian classification regulation