The case for reform

5.2 Responses received to the Issues Paper and consultations with industry, government and community stakeholders have affirmed the view that the existing National Classification Scheme is in need of fundamental reform. Stakeholders identified key flaws with the current classification system. As discussed in Chapter 2, the current classification framework is widely seen as resulting from its development in an ad hoc and reactive manner, and as poorly equipped to respond to a rapidly changing media environment and the challenges of media convergence.

5.3 In concluding that fundamental reform of the National Classification Scheme is required, the ALRC proposes an approach to reform that recognises the transformative nature of the convergent media environment (as discussed in Chapter 3), and grounded in a set of guiding principles that provide a foundation for the future development of the National Classification Scheme (as discussed in Chapter 4).