Comments on: Left 4 Dead 2 News http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/ Australia needs an R18+ rating for video games. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/comment-page-1/#comment-602 Matt Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:10:39 +0000 http://www.r18games.com.au/?p=343#comment-602 <a href="http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/#comment-601" rel="nofollow">@Pirate</a>, Atkinson is responsible to the Labor Party of South Australia, although I get the impression he has a fair bit of leeway. (Premier Mike Rann seems to give him a fairly long leash.) In addition to this, the new(ish) Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, has effectively <a href="http://au.gamespot.com/news/6226804.html" rel="nofollow">said</a> that the discussion paper is no longer a priority. (Previous Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus was to have released the paper by the end of July after taking over responsibility when the SCAG failed to reach a unanimous verdict. KRudd replaced Debus in a cabinet reshuffle in June.) So we're facing opposition (or at least indifference) at both State and Federal levels. (I'm willing to give KRudd the benefit of the doubt in as much as I don't believe it was a deliberate ploy to stall the discussion paper; merely a beneficial side-effect for him.) It is probably useless to lobby Atkinson (or Rann) as they're fairly set in the matter; it may be worthwhile lobbying the SA opposition to get them to bring more attention to the matter, though I cannot say how effective this would be. @Pirate, Atkinson is responsible to the Labor Party of South Australia, although I get the impression he has a fair bit of leeway. (Premier Mike Rann seems to give him a fairly long leash.)

In addition to this, the new(ish) Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, has effectively said that the discussion paper is no longer a priority. (Previous Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus was to have released the paper by the end of July after taking over responsibility when the SCAG failed to reach a unanimous verdict. KRudd replaced Debus in a cabinet reshuffle in June.)

So we’re facing opposition (or at least indifference) at both State and Federal levels. (I’m willing to give KRudd the benefit of the doubt in as much as I don’t believe it was a deliberate ploy to stall the discussion paper; merely a beneficial side-effect for him.)

It is probably useless to lobby Atkinson (or Rann) as they’re fairly set in the matter; it may be worthwhile lobbying the SA opposition to get them to bring more attention to the matter, though I cannot say how effective this would be.

]]> By: Pirate http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Pirate Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:17:51 +0000 http://www.r18games.com.au/?p=343#comment-601 Who can we lobby to get this discussion paper going? Does Atkinson have a boss? Surely getting the discussion paper out of Atkinson's hands is what we should focus on, not the OFLC? Who can we lobby to get this discussion paper going? Does Atkinson have a boss? Surely getting the discussion paper out of Atkinson’s hands is what we should focus on, not the OFLC?

]]> By: Glenn http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/comment-page-1/#comment-599 Glenn Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:53:54 +0000 http://www.r18games.com.au/?p=343#comment-599 gamepolitics.com interviews Margaret Pomeranz about the lack of an R18+ rating for games: http://byteside.com/blog/2009/10/01/margaret-pomeranz-on-r18/ gamepolitics.com interviews Margaret Pomeranz about the lack of an R18+ rating for games:

http://byteside.com/blog/2009/10/01/margaret-pomeranz-on-r18/

]]> By: Glenn http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/comment-page-1/#comment-598 Glenn Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:46:38 +0000 http://www.r18games.com.au/?p=343#comment-598 Remember that Michael Atkinson refused to debate the issue. So not only does he refuse to agree on a R rating, he is now delaying the discussion paper as long as he can. Anyone who votes him back in the next SA election is completely retarded. Remember that Michael Atkinson refused to debate the issue. So not only does he refuse to agree on a R rating, he is now delaying the discussion paper as long as he can. Anyone who votes him back in the next SA election is completely retarded.

]]> By: Dave http://www.r18games.com.au/2009/09/left-4-dead-2-news/comment-page-1/#comment-597 Dave Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:12:28 +0000 http://www.r18games.com.au/?p=343#comment-597 It's interesting that you mention the discussion paper. The discussion paper on the R18+ rating for games was first agreed upon in princple at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-Genreal in March 2008, originally with a view of releasing it in early 2009. It was then confirmed that they were planning on releasing the discussion paper at their November 2008 meeting, and then again in their April 2009 meeting. It's now practically October and the discussion paper still isn't ready for public consultation. It’s interesting that you mention the discussion paper. The discussion paper on the R18+ rating for games was first agreed upon in princple at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-Genreal in March 2008, originally with a view of releasing it in early 2009. It was then confirmed that they were planning on releasing the discussion paper at their November 2008 meeting, and then again in their April 2009 meeting. It’s now practically October and the discussion paper still isn’t ready for public consultation.

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