CYC-Net

CYC-Net on Facebook CYC-Net on Twitter Search CYC-Net

Join Our Mailing List

Opinion

Personal views on current Child and Youth Care affairs

ListenListen to this

AUSTRALIA

M-rated shows on earlier timeslots at odds with fight against domestic violence: Liberal MP

The new commercial television code that will allow M-rated programs to air earlier is facing resistance from the Federal Government backbench.

The changes are due to come into effect on December 1 and will allow films or programs rated MA15+ to be broadcast on free-to-air channels from 8:30pm instead of 9pm. Programs rated M will be able to start from 7:30pm, an hour earlier than the current rule.

Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey is fighting the changes, saying they send the wrong message to children and are at odds with efforts to tackle domestic violence.

"It's not that hard to draw the lines between early and easier access to more violent and explicit television and the way unfortunately and sadly many women are treated in relationships," Mr Ramsey said. "The idea now that people are going to have to have their children in bed or away from the television or fully supervised before 7:30pm in daylight saving in southern Australia I believe is just beyond the pale."

The new code has been submitted by the commercial free-to-air television industry (Free TV) and approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) earlier this month.

Mr Ramsey is among a group of Coalition MPs meeting a representative from Free TV in Canberra today. The industry argues the new code of practice reflects the modern digital media landscape, while ACMA has pointed out content can now be viewed from a variety of sources and platforms.

But Mr Ramsey said that was not a good enough argument.

"My counter-argument to that is that we know that our kids unfortunately can access drugs out in the market to but we don't go and put them in all the cafes so they can access them more easily," he said.

He said he had strong support from his Coalition colleagues and was calling on Free TV to withdraw the code before it starts.

"If they fail to, I will consider the options of bringing something forward through the Parliament that we enforce, what I consider the will of the people," Mr Ramsey said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/earlier-access-m-rated-tv-shows-sends-wrong-message-kids-mp-says/6974764

PREVIOUS OPINION

The International Child and Youth Care Network
THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD AND YOUTH CARE NETWORK (CYC-Net)

Registered Public Benefit Organisation in the Republic of South Africa (PBO 930015296)
Incorporated as a Not-for-Profit in Canada: Corporation Number 1284643-8

P.O. Box 23199, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa | P.O. Box 21464, MacDonald Drive, St. John's, NL A1A 5G6, Canada

Board of Governors | Constitution | Funding | Site Content and Usage | Advertising | Privacy Policy | Contact us

iOS App Android App