Legislation For 18+ Games Hits Australian Parliament

angry tapir writes "Legislation to pave the way for an R18+ (adults only) classification of video games has just been introduced into the Australian parliament by the minister for home affairs. The state and territories will still have to pass complementary legislation, however. Currently the highest rating for a game in Australia is MA15+, with games that didn't meet the criteria being refused classification, leading to content being gutted prior to release or games just not being released. The legislation marks a victory for a long campaign by gamers (notably lobby group Grow Up Australia). The current legislation, which will take effect on January 1 next year providing it makes it through the lower and upper houses, merely introduces an R18+ classification, falling short of the complete classification overhaul proposed by the Australian Law Reform Commission."

Comments

Free marketing

[muttoj]

I do not know how it works in Australia, but I always think that making something illegal is the best way to promote it as something fun. A R18+ rating only places a game in the cool sector.

Re:Free marketing

[Electricity Likes Me]

Any game which has to be R18+ is presently completely illegal in Australia.

Ones which don't have to be are shoehorned inappropriately into the M15+ classification.

This is a whole section of obviously good legal reform which has been held up by special interest groups for over a decade because the general public just doesn't care (changing now since the average gamer age is approaching 30, to bad those in power tend to be 50-60).

Of course if I had my way, it would be illegal to "ban" anything that didn't take actual illegal activity to produce, and replaced with guidelines on distribution and public display.

Re:Free marketing

[mjwx]

This is a whole section of obviously good legal reform which has been held up by special interest groups for over a decade because the general public just doesn't care (changing now since the average gamer age is approaching 30, to bad those in power tend to be 50-60).

This,

The majority of Australians support R18+ for games, it's a tiny minority who oppose it (most notably Christian lobby groups). Unfortunately it's a tiny minority that was owed political favours. Since then the roadblock, Michael Atkinson was removed, punished first by voters, then by his own party as he resigned from the front bench. The Attorney Generals have approved it and it's going before parliament.

Re:Also a win for those wanting stricter limits

[Bill Currie]

As far as I'm concerned, there is but one appropriate rathing: PG, with a very strong emphasis on the P.

Re:Also a win for those wanting stricter limits

[locopuyo]

If you can't be the P you shouldn't be a P. The government should not be the P.

Re:Also a win for those wanting stricter limits

[mjwx]

If you can't be the P you shouldn't be a P. The government should not be the P.

But who gets to determine who is and isn't fit to be a P?

People unfit to be a P will often make the decision to become a P completely oblivious to their inability to be a P. Shows like 15 and pregnant are proof of this.

Sorry, but you cant blame bad P's on government bungling, as much as I agree with you about the government not being a P.

Finally some sanity

[gweihir]

Lets face it, in a modern society there are things that are dangerous for kids but should be allowed for adults. Some video games qualify. The old regulation was basically an invitation for censorship. With the 18+ rating, censorship becomes quite difficult.

Re:Also a win for those wanting stricter limits

[bloodhawk]

That would require every parent to understand every game. That is completely unrealistic even for many good parents, a well run rating system is meant to assist parents in determining what their kids can and cannot play/watch.

Change anything?

[wisnoskij]

Will this law change anything though?
Right now, they have to have 18+ games shipped to them or order online. In countries where 18+ is completely legal, we do the same.

In Canada and the US, for example, 18+ games are completely legal (no special restrictions as far as I know). But that does not mean that a single brick and mortar store has anything to do with them. While we were able to convince the government that games are the same as movies, parents continue to think otherwise.