The Marshall Liberal Government has axed funding that helps parents make informed decisions about the movies and apps their children watch.
The Australian Council on Children and the Media, based at Flinders University, received $110 000 a year under the previous Labor Government for the free online advice service.
The Know Before You Go and Know Before You Load reviews help families understand what classifications mean and choose entertainment that is enjoyable, age-appropriate and unlikely to lead to nightmares or anxieties.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman axed the Council’s funding and directed it to get money from the Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Minister Fifield has now told the organisation he will not provide any funds.
The Council has now resorted to crowd funding in a last ditch effort to keep the service from being permanently switched off.
Quotes attributed to Shadow Minister for Child Protection Jayne Stinson
Parents are worried about what their children watch and the impact that violence, sex and adult themes have on their young minds – particularly when it comes to apps.
Families want to be well-informed about the viewing choices they make for their kids and this service fills a gap, providing unbiased, expert information.
The Liberal Government’s cuts agenda is going too far when it is pinching such small amounts of money that make such a big difference for families.
The Liberals should reverse this petty penny pinching and back a service that does so much to protect children in a complex media landscape.