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

fulfillment of geek dreams

[crutchy]

the tabletop dancers in duke nukem can finally be naked

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

[Anonymous Coward]

As a student in neighboring New Zealand we used to routinely seek out material in the coveted "banned in Australia" category.

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:Free marketing

[Cimexus]

True, but it should be understood that it was not actually ~illegal~ to own or play a 'refused classification' game previously in Australia in most States (WA being the notable exception). It was merely illegal for a store to SELL the game. Or more accurately, the law says that all media sold to the public in Australia must have a classification, so obviously if something doesn't have one/is refused classification, they can't sell it. And due to some stupidness arising from the early 90s when the classification scheme for computer games was first developed, the ratings only topped out at MA15+ (whereas they go up to R or X for other media). After all, only kids play these new-fangled computer game things right?

I live in Australia, but own and play, perfectly legally, several games that are were refused classification in Australia. I bought these in person while travelling overseas in the past, or ordered them from an overseas website. And in my jurisdiction at least (the ACT) I'm not doing anything wrong. The only thing I couldn't do is set up a retail company and sell them.

Getting a proper R18+ rating for games is the culmination of a pretty long fight by gamers and retailers. Assuming it gets passed by Parliament (it should), this is great news. (Mind you, even if R18+ games start appearing on shelves here, I'll still buy them from overseas anyway since it is much cheaper!)

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.

Won't believe it until it gets passed

[Rik Rohl]

Now watch the freak conservative 'family' organisations mount a media blitz that results in this getting killed.

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

[Ihmhi]

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.

But this is not unique to P. Human stupidity affects everyone, including people who are not parents, or "NP".

In fact, I'd say P and NP are pretty much the same.

Re:Also a win for those wanting stricter limits

[ixnaay]

There is a ton of effort going on to prove that P != NP ... I think you may be coming at this problem from just an odd enough perspective to finally solve it.