R18+ Bill to be introduced in Parliament next month
According to GameSpot, the office of the Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Jason Clare, has confirmed that the bill to introduce an R18+ rating for video games will be tabled when Parliament resumes on February 7th. A spokesperson from Clare’s office told GameSpot:
“Our plans are to introduce the R18+ bill in the first session of parliament this year. If it passes the Lower House, it will then go to the Senate for the same process.”
For the bill to be passed in the lower house, it requires the support of two crossbench MPs (independents Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, Andrew Wilkie, and Bob Katter; and Greens MP Adam Bandt), all of them remaining silent on the issue.
To be passed in the Senate, it must be approved by either the Greens or the Coalition. Shadow Attorney-General had doubts about the rating in the past, while the Greens are showed their support.
If the bill is passed, then Mortal Kombat and Syndicate will be able to get released with an R18+ rating, Left 4 Dead 2 would be uncensored, and a majority of violent games such as The Darkness II will get the ratings they deserve.
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John F says:
Who cares anymore?, I’m still importing my games whether they pass this thing or not. It’s cheaper for me anyways and they’re only hurting Aussie retailers in the process so sooner or later the gaming stores will close thier doors if they continue to pull this crap. Either way I will get what I want and they can’t stop me. Keep up the idiocy Australian Government, you’ve only got yourselves to blame for this mess.
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Justin says:
Well…I’ll believe it when I’m standing in EB, holding a legit copy of Syndicate in my hands. I just can’t bring myself to get excited about this anymore, though. Those government fuckers who think they know what’s best for us just don’t get it. This is what they’re doing to us…
“Alright, Ms. Gillard, now that they’ve suffered enough, should we remove the machete from the Aussie Gamer’s (collective) back?”
“Yes, Mr. Random Sidekick. Although…I’m curious. Let’s take out the machete, and insert the kitchen knife.”
“Certainly, Ms. Gillard.”
So there you have it. We’ve had the large knife removed from our (collective) back, and they’ve just inserted a slightly smaller knife. Why, Australia? Why couldn’t you just let the R18 rating through how it should be? Let everything through except for those things that are illegal or could offend on an extreme level (ie: child-pornography, hardcore porn, etc.), if Australia does it the right way, we may be a very small step to becoming slightly cooler on the world-stage! The next step would be to SEVERELY reduce import taxes. Why should we pay $320,000 for something that costs only $80,000 in the US or Europe? I’m referring to a Porsche 911 Turbo, by the way.
Come on Australia, one very small step forward, now we just have to start bounding, and….maybe even sprinting.
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Alex says:
Why do we need a R18+ rating, if you look at games now like; dead space 2 or gears of war 3, there already pretty violent. I own Mortal Kombat, i bought it overseas, to me this game isnt that much violenter to what we see now.
In America they have the ratings: E(Little Big Planet), E10+(Ratchet & Clank), T13+(Batman: Arkham Asylum), M17+(COD:MW3) and AO18+(Leisure Suit Larry).
In America games like mortal kombat or syndicate are given an M17+ rating equivalent to a MA15+ rating in Australia, games that are given an AO Rating equivalent to a R18+ rating in Australia are games that contain full nudity, explicit sexual content or explicit drug use.
I believe we should adopt the American classification scheme so then in Australia, the games that are violent and vicious should be given an MA15+ rating. And the games that contain adult content (sex, nudity) should be given an R18+ rating.
In MA15+ rated movies you can see a person being cut up and tortured in the Saw movies and you can see people being ripped apart and eaten by Werewolfs in the Underworld movies, surely games should be no different. Currently movies like Rambo or Kill Bill vol.1 are given R18+ ratings which is understandable they contain full-on, explicit, graphic and some times realistic violence. I don’t believe that Mortal Kombat or Left for Dead 2 in anyway is realistic violence, it is just immortals brutally killing each other or humans hacking away at a Zombie Torso. I don’t believe that these could pop-up in day-to-day lifestyle.
Also on the note that leting an R rated Game, be classified MA15+ would allow more children to play the game well if you think about it, already I know kids 8 or 9 playing games like Grand Theft Auto 4, Alien Vs. Predators or even Gears or War, and do yo know why?
It is simply because parents by it for them.
Currently I am 15, however back when I was younger I watched R rated movies, because in the end it isn’t up to the government to stop parents buying the movies for the kids.
And when the R rating comes in (if it does), will anything stop parents getting their kids Mortal Kombat or Syndicate if it makes the child happy?
And even if parents don’t buy the game, kids are still going to see it anyway on the internet or at a friends place.
And I know this R rating isn’t about protecting kids, its about giving Adults the choice to play these games. As the average gamer is a 30-something year old male.
So in the end it is about them, however many kids do play games and in studies that ask whether violent video games trigger aggression in adolecents, there is an even outcome some saying they do some saying they don’t.
I don’t care if games get an R rating because until I am 18 i will get my parents to buy these games for me.
I would just like it if violent video games were treated like movies sure if it is as violent as Rambo 4 then let it be 18+ but if it is a game where it is unrealistic and children will know that this could happen in real life why isn’t it 15+?
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Alastair Thomson says:
Good luck gamers today is the day!
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Concerned Australian says:
Me still thinks we’re gonna get shafted royal, I’ve had such high hopes and beliefs in the Australian GOVs decision making in this matter about 10yrs ago… only to have them destroyed, shredded and stomped into oblivion.
We will eventually get the “R” system but dont get upset when its not what your after.
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Gerard says:
I hope we find out the verdict soon…
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Justin says:
@Alex
Mate…you’re kidding right? You, my friend, are an idiot. It IS up to the Government to stop parents from subjecting their children to R18+ material. It is actually ILLEGAL for ANYONE under the age of 18 in Australia, to view or purchase such material.
I do agree however, that unfortunately most children will be subjected to R18+ games/movies. It can be stopped at home by blocking unsuitable websites and videos. The only place it can’t really be stopped – is at the friend’s house.
In regards to parents purchasing this material for their children…well I’m sure heavy penalties will definitely curb their willingness to break the law for their kid. I sincerely hope, that when Australia does get an R18+ rating for games, that the nation’s parents will see straight and refuse to allow their children access to any of this material. I sure as hell won’t be letting my daughter anywhere near it.
Until you are 18, I would advise that you stay quiet with topics you know nothing about. Go outside, kick a footy. Play games that are suitable for your age bracket (and by the sounds of things, you may be confined to games like Rayman or Sonic). Finally…don’t put your parents in a situation like that by asking them to break the law for you. It’s people like you that constantly make the Government think twice about giving us an R18+ rating. So in future, if you must comment – for fuck’s sake don’t give out how old you are.
By the way…surely you don’t believe the violence in Kill Bill or Rambo 4 is realistic, do you? They are graphic, and very explicit, but by no means are they realistic. I know this from experience. Look into it sometime.
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Scott Bailey says:
Hurry the fuck up already. How much money and business do you want Australia to lose? And what’s this shit I heard about wankers trying to pin some kid dying in a net cafe against games? The kid was SICK to have had a heart attack. What if he has d a heart attack at school? We gonna say.. “Don’t go to school it kills people” Get fucked!!
Hurry up you old stale fuck wits and pass this bill. Procrastinating fucking bullshit if you ask me!
Enough is a fucking-nough!
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Dodge Pheonix says:
@Concerned Australian
I completely agree agree with you. Its hard to get excited about this issue anymore. If people really want something they will get it somehow, and even if the bill is passed and everything, from what ive read they will still be enforcing the RC category with the titles that us older gamers want to play anyway. It almost seems pointless to me to have the R18+ category at this point.
Shafted again
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Dodge Pheonix says:
I should add that I do agree that the classifications should exist and games like dead space should have higher ratings on them like r18+ because it scared the pants off me and im in my mid twenties. shame
Parents can at least rely on the classifications if they want to (even though I think most wont).
For me I have no kids yet and FOR MY PURPOSES ONLY the r18+ category will be useless.
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David says:
FINALLY, unless the government are absolute buzz kills, this should finally pass. I really don’t understand why there shouldn’t be an R rating. Movies and books have far more graphic images (books leave things to the imagination as well!), yet we’re allowed to watch hundreds of messed up movies. If GTA or Manhunt can’t be allowed to be shown in its full, why are films like Irreversible (it has an 8 minute continuous rape scene) allowed to be shown on Foxtel?
When I was in Amsterdam, I saw an entire section of an adult store dedicated to rape simulation porn, yet we can’t go around decapitating and chopping up Aliens?
From a psychological perspective, wouldn’t it be smarter to allow an adult to unleash his anger on killing things in a violent manner in a videogame, rather than do it in real life?
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The Family Man says:
The Idiocy of Australia’s clasification board and humans in general Is amusing.
Games are invalid they exist to amuse people there Is no need for clasifications If a parent thinks a game Is to violent then don’t let your child play It.
And Don’t even try saying “How are parents surpose to know” Its there child Its there resposibility to Moniter and watch over them Until there brains are devoloped to the point that they can make there own choices.
Most gamers are 30 + now and Its up to them what they want to play.
There is a difference between Fiction and reality.
Games are Fiction.
Moronic humans nothing more.
Humanity Is said to be over thousands of years old Looking at this poor world now You would think we have just come into existence over the pass hundred years.
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Concerned Australian says:
Just think… Wen we get this (R)ating approved we’d be lUCKY to even score:
-Mortal Kombat
-The Whitcher 2
-Syndicate
-Postal 3
-Left 4 Dead 2
(just to name a few)
Whereas these are only a lost hope away:
-Manhunt
-Manhunt 2
-Reservior Dogs
-Postal: Fudge Pack
-NecroVision
Australia has ALWAYS been the “slowest kid in school” compared to UK, USA & thanks to stubborn politicians, idiotic religious sects & useless A.Gs it’ll continue to be just that. Anyone else feeling a little “remedial”??