Government to introduce R18+ Games despite opposition

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

According to Adelaide Now, the Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, is flexing his muscles again by challenging state governments to agree to an R18+ rating for video games.

We’re becoming the laughing stock of the developed world, where we’re the only country that doesn’t have an R18 classification level for video games. I foreshadow that if there is not a consensus around this issue, the Commonwealth will certainly be considering other options because we cannot continue to have an outdated classification system that’s actually, in my view, causing harm to young people. I’m not going to let this matter end because it’s too important to allow one or two jurisdictions to stop the majority of jurisdictions in this country moving on an important reform. But can I say my very strong preference is to have consensus around the table in July.

So even if one or states oppose the rating, the Federal Government is still going to introduce one whether the states like it or not, therefore overturning a undemocratic law which states all censorship ministers must agree to a change in censorship laws.

What needs to happen is enormous pressure being put on politicians to amend the laws so that in the end only a majority of votes can implement the change we really need.

O’Connor sets deadline for R18+ Games

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Brendan O’Connor, the Home Affairs Minister, has told GameSpot that he is interested in introducing an R18+ game rating in July.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals (SCAG) was initially going to decide whether Australia should have the rating on March 4. However, NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos has ruled out attending the upcoming SCAG meeting, possibly due to the looming NSW state election. Therefore, the decision cannot be held in March.

But O’Connor believes that the March meeting would be a good time for ministers to examine the new guidelines and make a more concrete decision on how to proceed with the R18+ issue. He also claims that a vote for the new guidelines is a vote for a new R18+ rating.

You can read the full article here.

R18+ decision delayed… again

Friday, December 10th, 2010

According to GameSpot, Attorneys-General across Australia have failed to reach an unanimous decision on whether an R18+ rating is to be introduced, delaying the process until the next SCAG meeting in March 2011.

An hour after Laura Parker’s article, Kotaku had a phone conversation with Brendan O’Connor stated that everyone who attended the SCAG meeting agreed that the rating system needed to be changed. Interestingly, he was asked about the involvement of Western Australia’s Attorney-General, Christian Porter.

“Ah look, Christian has a really open mind about the subject, and he is genuinely worried about the way games are currently falling into childrens hands under MA15+.”

He is not alone when he says this. However, there are some reports that say that he wanted to consult his cabinet ministers before his decision can be made. He had plenty of time before the meeting to discuss this, so there was no reason for the delay. O’Connor went on to mention the new Victoria Attorney-General, Robert Clarke.

“We also had a new Victorian AG, and he’s only been an Attorney General for a few days, so we really need more time to get everything worked out.”

This statement is of concern. Around March, New South Wales will have an election; and if the Coalition win power and a new Attorney-General is appointed, then the decision can be delayed once again.

So we have to wait until March to see what happens. Until then, games such as Splatterhouse, Dead Rising 2, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will continue to be available to minors; and the Classification Board will have a much difficult job classifying games due to a line in the National Classification Code which reads “adults should read, hear and see what they like”.

Government backs R18+ rating

Monday, December 6th, 2010

According to Kotaku Australia, Brendan O’Connor, the Minister for Home Affairs, has recently announced that the Federal Government now support for an introduction of an R18+ rating for video games. In a statement released by O’Connor previously:

“We want to provide better guidance for parents, claimed O’ Connor, “and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers. The introduction of an R18+ classification will help achieve that.

We believe that this is the right decision for Australian families and the right decision for parents who want to be able to make informed choices about the games their children play.

“Children and teenagers shouldn’t be exposed to the gratuitous sex, violence and adult themes that are contained in some computer games.

“There are dozens of games that are currently classified as MA15+ in Australia, but in other countries these gaming titles are restricted to adults only.

“If the new category is introduced, it could result in computer games that are currently classified MA15+ being reclassified R18+, providing a new level of protection for children.

But it will be up to the Attorney-Generals on Friday to decide whether or not an R18+ rating is introduced.

However, question marks hang over the heads of some Attorneys-General that would actually support the new rating. There is already word that Western Australia’s Christian Porter might oppose the new rating, and we have have no idea of the position taken by newly elected Victorian Attorney-General, Robert Sercombe.

Let’s hope that on Friday common sense prevails.

ACL urges members to write e-mails

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

The Australian Christian Lobby has set up an e-mail section of their web site, urging members to contact the Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor via e-mail, as well as their State’s Attorney-General, in opposition to the introduction of an R18+ rating. The website also encourages users to consider the following points:

• the interactivity of video games means that users identify with the aggressor
• research has shown that there is a clear link between playing violent games and aggressive thoughts and behaviours
• the rate of violence in video games is much higher than on film and video

The ACL is encouraging users to write e-mails based on this misinformation, as well as straw men arguments that were derived from outdated studies. They represent a small number of Christians by taking a viewpoint that they may not support.

Source: Kotaku Australia