Australian free-to-air TV stations push for more M-rated content hours and watered down child protections

Critics of the proposal say it would expose children to inappropriate content and alcohol advertising

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Commercial broadcasters want to allow M-rated content for an additional two hours a day and to remove protections for children during school holidays and weekends, a push which comes as they lobby the government not to ban gambling ads.

The broadcasting regulator has warned the Free TV lobby group their proposal to allow more time for M-rated or mature content would expose children under 15 to alcohol advertising.

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