Sussan Ley, a representative from Australia's Liberal Party, said the new laws would enforce age-verification on content rated inappropriate for those under 15 (MA15+) and on content rated inappropriate for those under 18 (R18+) — roughly equivalent to America's PG-13 and R ratings.
Content given Australia's X18+ rating, equivalent to America's NC-17 or triple-X, would be banned outright.
Australia's Liberal Party falls to the right of center on social issues, while the competing Labor Party falls to the left of center.
"The new framework provides appropriate protections for children from being exposed to content suited only to adults while providing industry with the flexibility to explore the potential of providing entertainment and other services over new technologies," Ley said.
That flexibility would include the option for mobile content providers to form their own code of conduct, but Australia's Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), would still have the power to intervene and enforce this new array of laws at their own discretion. Powers granted to the ACMA would include the ability to force providers to remove "offensive" material or halt broadcast of live feeds.
These new laws would also launch an awareness campaign warning against the alleged dangers of chat rooms.
