Pro-R18+ Attorney-General Calls It Quits
According to Kotaku Australia, David Bartlett, the Attorney-General for Tasmania, has just announced his resignation. Bartlett, 43, previously announced that he is in favour of an R18+ rating for games.
The introduction of an R18+ classification would help give parents a clear idea of which computer games are suitable for their children,” he claimed, in a statement released just a few months ago.
It’s about giving parents clear information, a clearer choice, and more confidence in the games they buy for their children.
An R18+ category currently applies to other forms of entertainment, like films and some magazines. It’s appropriate to use the same clear and consistent restrictions for computer games.
For me, the real issue is not whether we should have an R18+ classification – which is obvious. The issue is how to construct those guidelines.
We need to ensure the guidelines are properly worded, so appropriate games can be played by adults, while still excluding those games which depict high-level sex and violence.
The debate should now be about getting those guidelines or criteria right.
Bartlett’s resignation means that it could take weeks to find a replacement; and whoever that is, hopefully they share a similar position as Bartlett’s and the decision whether or not to introduce an R18+ won’t be delayed yet again.
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Jay says:
Sigh…
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John F says:
I’m about to call it quits worrying about this crap myself. There’s nothing else we can do to speed this up. It’s just excuses after excuses and constant delays. We’ve sent submissions, petitions, letters to the AG’s and yet there’s always going to be someone or something that will block this thing from happening.
If they continue this charade, I’ll just show them the same curteosy during state and federal elections. My vote remains neutral until we get what we want, plain and simple I don’t care either.
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Alien Ferox says:
@ John
I completely agree… I’ve been donkey-voting ever since this all started! In fact I’ve come up with a new party for the gov… THE GIMP!! This is my silent protest to the A-holes that treat us as such! Next time you’re using the polling booth… VOTE GIMP!!
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Wiimeiser says:
I’m voting for Lucario in 2013. This is a complete farce!
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lucky says:
i dont care what board says ppls are going to order mortal kombat bec if thay 18 thay should be aloud to you cnt stop it your make ppls order it more not going to fix it it bec you lot are takeing to long to do it i surport 18 games hurry about it will you
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lee says:
OH FFS !!
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Peter says:
Hi, I’m a relative newb to this site. Can someone please explain (or link to) what the necessary steps are to get a R18+ rating in Aus. Is it a descision for the State Attorney-Generals alone? Do they all have to agree or can some AGs (and therefore States) allow the R classifications whilst some states ban it? Or is it a descision for the Classification Board to make? Can anyone like the federal Attorney General or GG ‘veto’ the decision/s made?
Thanks in advance
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Jerone says:
i have mortal kombat on ps3
=)
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Andy says:
@ Peter
All the AGs need to make a unanimus desition on the R18+ rating, and if one of them decides that they dont want the rating, then we dont get it, even if the other 6 AGs want the rating. so in a sence yes 1 AG can ‘veto’ the whole thing even if they are the minorety of all the AGs, its a failure of a system, what ever happened to majority rules??
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Josh says:
WE WANT R18 NOW GIVE IT TO ME.. CALL ME 911
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Cindy says:
i want mortal kombat give it to me now
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darkness2199 says:
if this r18 is delay again lolz no matter how many petition we make they there is always 1 person who don’t want an r18 rating for games, eventually it will push us all to a point where we will do things drastic then just do a petition like some kind of strike
because this us utter bs most people who play games are now older 18!!
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Troy says:
@ darkness2199
Unfortunately all these politicians don’t realise this in that they don’t realise that times have changed for you see the current rating system was brought in when it was mostly kids that played videogames all those years ago however like I said times have changed as it is mostly adults now that play videogames but if you ask me you might as well bang your head against a brick wall because like John F said we’ve sent submissions, petitions, letters to the AG’s and yet there’s always going to be someone or something that will block this thing from happening.
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Sean says:
ok heres the thing these games were designed produced and aimed at age groups OVER 18. so what does this tell u? that there should have been an R18+ classification from the VERY begining, so wats up? these games were not aimed at children, but at adults, and did u know the average gamer is 33 years old, yea he doesnt need protection, so stop taking my freedom and rights from me, cause when i turned 18 2 years ago earned the right to play watch and drink whatever i want. but it seems that i am being refused this by those wankers sitting high and mighty on there tiny little thrones trying to be politicaly correct, how friggin hard is it u peel the R18+ sticker off and slap it on the game cover yea its that simple, u dont need anything else, cause its just a dam sticker, so pull ur heads in u wankers!
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John F says:
Here’s a good example of our backwards ass government. Countries like UK, China and many others have a Carbon Tax in effect, Australia is going to follow soon. Now, while the majority of Australians are against the Carbon Tax, the minority support it, Labor(Julia Gillard) in favour of it will introduce it regardless and WHY? because it’s necessary even if it isn’t proven to be an effective method of tackling climate change and because they want it and we have no say in the matter.
SEE A PATTERN HERE, the R rating is also an important issue that should have been resolved years ago. The majority of gamers were for it and the minority against it(religious nutjobs like ACL as well as lazy parents). Even though other western countries have the R rating, Australia should be following their example but NO they’re prepared to continue with an outdated classification system which allows R rated games to get an MA15+. WHY, because idiots who don’t want the change argue kids will get their hands on it. Aren’t they already? They don’t want it and our views are irrelevant because they say so. So much for Democracy huh.
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Troy says:
@ John F
Like I said in a earlier comment we might as well bang our heads against a brick wall
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John F says:
@Troy
Yeah we could do that but I recommend we play it smart and continue to purchase games offshore as a sign of protest to the government not to screw with the gaming community whether it’s legal or not. Australian retailers are losing out here and they can blame their beloved goverment for their arrogance.
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Troy says:
@ John F
Yeah I know we have to be smart about all this but like you said earlier (I will actually be importing Mortal Kombat as soon as I get some spare cash)
“We’ve sent submissions, petitions, letters to the AG’s and yet there’s always going to be someone or something that will block this thing from happening.” (And also what you said about the Carbon Tax)
Hence this is why I said we might as well bang our heads against a brick wall because the goverment never ever listens.
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John F says:
@Troy
You said “we might as well bang our heads against a brick wall because the goverment never ever listens.”
That statement there is undeniable fact my friend.
Good Luck to us all.
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Alien Ferox says:
@ Troy.
Dude, I found out the HARD WAY. About MK2011… Try and get it from NZ if you wanna try the online features. My copy is from Japan and the online “activation” code doesn’t work at all!? can still play single player and have two-controller kombat. but thats it. I’d assume its the same with UK, USA, also.
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Dodge Pheonix says:
I agree with “John F” in an earlier post. I really dont care anymore. Just need to accept that if this ever happens, it will be a long long time and nothing we do can speed it up. This is supposed to be a democracy isnt it, and what the people want, the people should get. I hate politics. its BS
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lucky says:
no get it from ebay uk better u get it cheaper and like i got mine from there go 4 it i did love it to bits took 2 weeks 4 mine lol