Obviously, every child should be given the best possible opportunity to acquire literacy skills.

So, if falling crime rates coincide with the rise of violent video games and increasing violence on TV and at the cinema, should we conclude that media violence is causing the drop in crime rates?

It's Australian to do such things because, however uncivilised they may seem, it's human to do them.

Some researchers sensibly suggest that rather than worrying too much about which programs our children are watching, we should concentrate on trying to reduce the total amount of time they spend in front of the screen.

Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. People are irrational.

On average, Australians watch more than three hours of television a day, compared with 12 minutes a day spent by the average couple talking to each other.

Obviously, every child should be given the best possible opportunity to acquire literacy skills.