Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill

Members, we now come to our final debate; that’s debate on clauses 1 to 3: title, commencement, and principal Act.

The commencement date of the bill is currently set for 30 April 2021; however, COVID-19 has caused disruptions to the work, and this initial commencement date has since passed. I’m tabling a Supplementary Order Paper which amends the commencement date to 1 February 2022 to reflect the high priority of implementing the bill. The time frame for commencement does not need to allow for the promulgation of regulations. This will ensure that other key provisions, such as the live stream provisions, can take effect immediately after commencement.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a question in the interim on the name of the bill. Given that we’ve had our fair share of laughs over the last few weeks around the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Urgent Interim Classification of Publications and Prevention of Online Harm) Amendment Bill, did the Minister actually have a look and see if there was some way of simplifying the title of the bill, or did it just get too hard?

The member will be delighted to know that when this bill gets passed its third reading, it will then fold into the main Act and we’ll know it as the classifications Act.

The question is that the Minister’s amendment to Clause 2 as set out on Supplementary Order Paper 75 be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

The question is that Clause 2 as amended stand part.

Clause 2 as amended agreed to

Clause 3 agreed to.

I will report this bill with amendment.