Summary

12.1 This chapter discusses the ALRC’s proposal for a new Regulator with primary responsibility for regulating the new National Classification Scheme. The Regulator would be responsible for a range of functions that are currently performed by the Classification Branch of the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department (Classification Branch); the Director of the Classification Board; and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The Regulator would also have a range of new functions necessary for the operation of the scheme.

12.2 The Regulator would be responsible for most regulatory activities related to the classification of media content—both offline and online. The Classification Board would be retained as an independent statutory body responsible for making some classification decisions, reviewing decisions, and auditing decisions made by industry classifiers.

12.3 The Regulator need not be a stand-alone agency, but might form one part of the ACMA with its broader responsibilities for the regulation of broadcasting, the internet, radio-communications and telecommunications.