22CA   Approved classification tools

             (1)  The Minister may approve a tool (a classification tool ) for the purposes of classifying one or more of the following (the relevant material ):

                     (a)  publications;

                     (b)  films;

                     (c)  computer games.

             (2)  A tool approved under subsection (1) is an approved classification tool for the relevant material.

             (3)  An approval may be given subject to the conditions specified in the approval.

             (4)  In deciding whether to approve a classification tool under subsection (1), the Minister must have regard to any matters specified in written guidelines made by the Minister for the purposes of this subsection.

             (5)  The Minister must not approve a classification tool under subsection (1) unless the tool will:

                     (a)  produce a decision on the classification of the relevant material for the Australian Capital Territory; and

                     (b)  determine consumer advice giving information about the content of the relevant material; and

                     (c)  notify the decision and the consumer advice to the Director.

             (6)  An approval under subsection (1):

                     (a)  must be in writing; and

                     (b)  is not a legislative instrument; and

                     (c)  must be published on the Department’s website.

             (7)  Guidelines made under subsection (4) are not a legislative instrument.

             (8)  Guidelines made under subsection (4) must be published on the Department’s website.

22CB   Variation or revocation of approval

             (1)  The Minister may vary or revoke an approval under subsection 22CA(1) if the Minister is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so, having regard to:

                     (a)  the matters specified in guidelines made for the purposes of subsection 22CA(4); and

                     (b)  any other matter the Minister considers relevant.

             (2)  A variation or revocation of an approval takes effect at the time specified in the instrument varying or revoking the approval (which must not be a time before the instrument is made).

             (3)  A variation or revocation of an approval:

                     (a)  must be in writing; and

                     (b)  must be published on the Department’s website.

22CC   Contracts etc. in relation to approved classification tools

                   The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into a contract, arrangement or understanding for purposes relating to the development, operation or availability for use of a tool that may be approved under section 22CA (approved classification tools).

22CD   Involvement in a corporation etc. in relation to approved classification tools

             (1)  The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth:

                     (a)  participate in the formation of a corporation; or

                     (b)  become a member of a corporation;

for purposes relating to the development, operation or availability for use of a tool that may be approved under section 22CA (approved classification tools).

             (2)  The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, appoint a person (whether or not engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 ) to a body or organisation (whether within or outside Australia) for purposes relating to the development, operation or availability for use of a tool that may be approved under section 22CA (approved classification tools).

22CE   Executive power of the Commonwealth

                   This Subdivision does not, by implication, limit the executive power of the Commonwealth.

22CF   Classification by approved classification tools

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a publication, film or computer game is unclassified; and

                     (b)  there is an approved classification tool for the publication, film or computer game; and

                     (c)  the approved classification tool is used to produce a decision, for the Australian Capital Territory, on the classification of the publication, film or computer game; and

                     (d)  the prescribed fee (if any) has been paid in relation to the decision;

the decision is taken, for the purposes of this Act, to be a decision of the Board to classify the publication, film or computer game.

             (2)  The following provisions of this Act do not apply in relation to the decision:

                     (a)  Division 2 of Part 2 (other than section 21);

                     (b)  Division 5 of Part 2.

             (3)  To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply to a decision made by the operation of an approved classification tool if the decision does not comply with a condition to which the approval is subject under subsection 22CA(3).

             (4)  The decision takes effect when it is included in:

                     (a)  the register, known as the National Classification Database, maintained by the Department; or

                     (b)  any replacement register.

             (5)  Consumer advice for the publication, film or computer game (as the case may be) that is determined by the approved classification tool is taken to be consumer advice determined under section 20 by the Board for the publication, film or computer game (as the case may be).

Note:          An approved classification tool must determine consumer advice: see paragraph 22CA(5)(b).

22CG   Approved classification tool certificates

             (1)  If a publication, film or computer game (the classified material ):

                     (a)  is classified; and

                     (b)  is taken to have been so classified by the Board because of the operation of section 22CF in relation to a decision of an approved classification tool;

a person may apply to the Director for a certificate (an approved classification tool certificate ) for the classified material.

             (2)  An application under subsection (1) must:

                     (a)  be in a form approved, in writing, by the Director; and

                     (b)  be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any).

Note:          For an applicant that is the Commonwealth, or a Commonwealth authority or agency: see section 91A.

             (3)  On application under subsection (1), the Director must issue an approved classification tool certificate for the classified material.

             (4)  The certificate must include the determined markings for the classification given to the classified material.

22CH   Revocation of classification by approved classification tool

Revocation of classification

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a decision made by the operation of an approved classification tool in relation to a publication, film or computer game (the relevant material ) is taken (because of the operation of section 22CF) to be a decision of the Board to classify the relevant material; and

                     (b)  the Board is of the opinion that, had the relevant material been classified otherwise than because of the operation of that section, the Board would have:

                              (i)  given the relevant material a different classification; or

                             (ii)  determined different consumer advice for the material;

the Board may revoke the classification.

             (2)  The Board may exercise the power under subsection (1):

                     (a)  on its own initiative; or

                     (b)  on application.

             (3)  An application under paragraph (2)(b) must:

                     (a)  be in a form approved, in writing, by the Director; and

                     (b)  be made:

                              (i)  within 3 months after the day the decision made by the operation of the approved classification tool takes effect; or

                             (ii)  if another period is specified in a determination under subsection (8)—within that longer period; and

                     (c)  if a class of persons is specified in a determination under subsection (8)—be made by a person included in that class; and

                     (d)  be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any).

Note:          For when the decision made by the operation of the approved classification tool takes effect, see subsection 22CF(4).

Classification after revocation

             (4)  If the Board decides to revoke the classification of relevant material under subsection (1), the Board must classify the relevant material.

             (5)  A decision of the Board to classify the relevant material, as referred to in subsection (4), takes effect when it is included in either:

                     (a)  the register, known as the National Classification Database, maintained by the Department; or

                     (b)  any replacement register.

             (6)  Subsection (5) has effect despite section 28 (when decisions take effect).

When revocation of classification takes effect

             (7)  The revocation of the classification of relevant material under subsection (1) takes effect immediately before the decision to classify the material, as referred to in subsection (4), takes effect.

Ministerial determination

             (8)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine either or both of the following:

                     (a)  a specified period for the purposes of subparagraph (3)(b)(ii);

                     (b)  a specified class of persons for the purposes of paragraph (3)(c).

22CJ   Delegation by the Minister

             (1)  The Minister may, by written instrument, delegate any or all of the Minister’s powers or functions under this Division, other than the Minister’s power to make guidelines for the purposes of subsection 22CA(4), to the Secretary of the Department.

             (2)  In exercising powers or performing functions under a delegation, the Secretary must comply with any directions of the Minister.

5  Subsection 43(4)

After “must”, insert “, if practicable,”.