R18+ rating for games being considered in Australia

PALGN News | We've heard this before.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, the new Federal Government of Australia is considering a review to make the R18+ rating available to games. Unlike all other media in Australia, currently games can only be rated up to MA15+, and any game not meeting the requirements for that rating is simply banned for sale in the country.

A spokesman for Bob Debus, Minister for Home Affairs, said the issue would be discussed in March. However, while the previous government wasn't particularly keen on the higher rating being available for games, in the past it was typically just as likely one of the states who blocked the passage of the legislation. For the rating legislation to be changed, the attorneys-general of each state must all agree on the issue, so just one state can block the legislation for the whole country.

In 2002 a similar proposal was not passed due to opposition from then Federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams, primarily because it did not have the support of some South Australian senators and South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson. The government argued that games should not have an R18+ rating because of "the likelihood of children gaining access to adult computer games increases if the material is legally available."

However, even some child protection advocates have called for the R18+ rating for games, arguing that the lack of an adult rating unhelpfully reinforces the 'games are only for children' stigma, and that some games have been squeezed in under the MA15+ rating by a pressured ratings board.

Since 2001, eighteen games have been banned by the ratings board in Australia, including the initial submission of Grand Theft Auto III, BMX XXX, Mark Ecko's Getting Up and recently, Dark Sector.

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43 Comments

critter2003

4 years ago

So are Daryl Williams and the SA senators still in parliament?
Because it seems they were the main section of the government denying the proposal, so is there any chance this has changed since 2002 or they've at least changed their stance on the issue?

Frozencry

4 years ago

Hopefully this passes, because I'm sick to death of being legally allowed to play these mature rated games, yet the ratings system of this ridiculous country doesn't allow me to do so.

Quit the bitchin' and get it out there you morons. Pornography and Extremely violent films are always passed through ratings, so why should games have it different.

Sinthesys

4 years ago

critter2003 wrote

Daryl Williams is out, has been since 2004, I think.

David

4 years ago

critter2003 wrote

Daryl Williams is gone, but most of the SA people are still there, including SA attorney-general Michael Atkinson.

Jedi.Jell

4 years ago

Might I be the first in saying "f**king finally!" I know now why I voted for Labor... it seems bigotry and ultra-conservatism are finally being replaced by intelligence and understanding in this country.

Here's hoping this doesn't get blocked by SA once again.

renegadesx

4 years ago

The liberals may try to block, Brendan Nelson is the sort of person that would much rather listen to Jack Thompson and Fox News rather than actual statistics which show games are more for adults and have been for a decade now.

Conservatives wake up! This is not the 80's so stop pretending like it is.

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

Has to make one wonder how in the hell this system of attorney generals works, apparently they take into consideration the best interests of all in making these decisions, so i ask, if one person can block legislation that the rest of them feel is worthwhile, what the hell sort of a democracy is this, and how could that possibly be in the best interests of all, having one person block something the others agree with? Now that is some seriously stupid constitutional ****

Itachi

4 years ago

People if they can't bring in a 18+ rating why not bring in a 21+ rating seriously. Just something where it looks better to all soccer mums and that games don't get banned! Why not a 23+ rating who cares really just don't ban games.

ittekimasu

4 years ago

I'm interested whether this will progress further, they need to realise that games are also designed for the adult audience and needs to be accepted even if it means showing ID or providing other methods of accessing it.

Rob_Jedi

4 years ago

Gotta say I look forward to an R rating coming in, not so much for the games that have so far been banned (since they were all mostly crap anyway) but so they stop doing the watering down of other games like GTA to squeeze them into the MA15 rating which means kids DO get them.

The question of course is if and when an R rating comes in will retailers stock such games. The **** that Manhunt 2 caused when it got AO ratings around the world meant that Sony, Ninty and M$ didn't want it on their consoles and big stores like Walmart didn't want the hassle either and wouldn't stock it. Will the same happen with an R rating?

Viva the new ratings, may it get passed. Just hope it doesn't cause yet more hassles for gamers, the sensationalist new's whipping boys.

Fly

4 years ago

renegadesx wrote

The Liberals can't hope to block anything at the moment because they'll crumble like their opposition to work choices has, at the present time the Liberals are viewed as a massive joke on both the Victorian state level & senate level, so arguably this is prime time to push through legislation that otherwise would go against Liberal policy, while they're unpopular, weak and ineffective.

I also would like to see the ratings changed, not because of the titles we couldn't get before, but so that we can quit being babied by the institutions in place.

Deathfiend

4 years ago

I personaly wont pay any attention to this unless its officialy passed.

Dont count your chickens before they've hatched.

kostaxtreme

4 years ago

Well the average gamer is above the age of legally being able to drink and go out to pubs, bars and clubs etc. (and actually are even older than that). These old crows in parliament are just massive pervs and hypocrits. Games are another form of narrative based media, there are movies out there are far more outlandish than any of the games been released so far. Movies are allowed the R rating, i mean even an X rating exists (and that is not only for porn, early rating revision of A Clockwork Orange anyone?) so why aren't gamers allowed the same pleasure. Adults should have the right to choose what they want for their entertainment, isn't this supposed to be a free country. These old farts in parliament need a head check and finally allow this legislation to pass. And enforce the law, under 18 year old are not allowed to purchase an R18 rated game, yes there are ways around that, but what says banning games is goin to stop ppl from obtaining it through other means.
Give us a break and pass this legislation ppl's.
Maybe a petition should be constructed. and put forward to these one-foot-in-the-grave politicians.

Buttmouth

4 years ago

I've run into problems with that lame system as well.
I ended up having to give Manhunt and GTA:SA away because it was illegal to sell them on eBay.

It doesn't mean much to me to have R18+ content, except that when
it gets banned it has to have the content removed and then re-released way later - which can sometimes be really, really frustrating.

I wouldn't mind if the games just kept that stuff out in the first place to be honest. But I understand that this way makes it much easier for developers and consumers which is always a good thing.

What-evs.

Sinthesys

4 years ago

I think the biggest point in this whole debate is simply this: We are basically the only 1st world country that doesn't have an R+ rating for games. This not only shows how draconian our law makers are, it also shows our unwillingness to embrace change. Our population aren't any more influenced by games than any other country, so why are we the only ones who don't have R+ games?

brad_sickness

4 years ago

All I can say is that I hope the references on the defensive aren't based on comparisons to film or at least aren't accentuated too much. I mean, y'know... you push and push and push on how we got an R18+ rating for films and you're trying to convince them that the ratings for games should be opened up to the same level as movies. Instead of getting them to say "You're right, let's stop banning games and do something" they'd probably end up saying "You're right, we should ban more films."

Bastards.

Toastfarmer

4 years ago

Well, predictably, looks like it's not happening:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23282288-5014239,00.html

Quote

The controversial R18+ classification for games is still opposed by at least one state attorney-general, a spokesperson has confirmed.
The issue of introducing an R18+ classification for games will be raised at the next Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) on March 28th. It has been off the political agenda since 2005.

At present, any game that exceeds an MA15+ rating must be refused classification in Australia.

The classification system can be modified if there is agreement from the Commonwealth and all state and territory attorneys-general.

But a spokesperson for Michael Atkinson, the South Australian Attorney General, has confirmed that he will maintain his long-running opposition to the proposed system.

"The attorney-general remains very firmly opposed to introducing an R rating for computer games in Australia," the spokesperson said.

Minister Atkinson would not consider an 18+ rating even if there were measures to protect children from being exposed to adult content, the spokesperson said.

"He doubts whether any safeguards could be put in place to deter young people, who after all (are) the most computer literate and savvy in our society, from being able to access material."

Most international videogame rating systems have an adult or 18+ category.

The Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) has called for a more consistent ratings system to "bring Australia into alignment with the rest of the world."

"Harmonisation of the national classification scheme will provide Australians with a consistent and uniform system," the industry body said in a statement.

"(This) will allow consumers to make educated and informed decisions on their entertainment choices, regardless of the medium or delivery method,"

"It will provide parents with a complete toolkit to manage children's game playing."

Last year, a study by Bond University for the IEAA found that more than 50 per cent of Australian gamers are aged over 18, making the average age 28.

"An R18+ classification will cater to the rising age of computer and video game players in Australia, allowing adult gamers to be treated as such and have broad choice in the types of games they play", the IEAA said.

I'm speechless at the sheer stupidity of Mr Atkinson and of the entire system.

Itachi

4 years ago

All i can say now is "it's great to live in Australia"

. Thanks for the new Toastfarmer

very sad day.

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

as i said before, what sort of a democracy is this?
the minority blocking the majority, i don't quite get that...
it absolutely infuriates me, and the next time i hear a south australian crap on about being a free settler, they can expect pain.

One person dictating this crap to the rest of us.
Time to scratch around for his email address

croydon@parliament.sa.gov.au

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

Toastfarmer wrote

I'm speechless at the sheer stupidity of Mr Atkinson and of the entire system.

You get used to it...

I'm pretty sure that 'spokesperson' used a little creative license in conveying Minister Atkinson's opinions on the matter. In fact, I'm almost certain that a direct quote would have been something more along the lines of:

Minister Atkinson was quoted as sticking his fingers in his ears, closing his eyes, and yelling "Nuh-uhh I"M NOT LISTENING!"

Itachi

4 years ago

Please everyone email his address for thoses who want a R+ rating system because this is the guy who is stopping it. I am not saying to be rude just say to hm why you want it really

.

thanks for the email Fetidchimp

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

the only reason he gets this power is because they can't have a seperate bloody board under the national censor (see the case of the qld censorship board), if they could have that, this wouldn't be an issue for the rest of us.

Itachi

4 years ago

This is what i wrote i know my English and grammar skills are bad but damn i feel so passionate about this subject. I sent this to his email just than. I know it probably won't do anything i just hope and pray.

Quote

I am writing to you today and begging that you reconsider your stance on a R+ system for Games. I understand that you fear children might get there hands on it but why don't you enforce mandatory id checks and enforce fines for people who don't do them. I don't see why the average gamer over 18+ has to miss out on games because of a fear that might not even happen.

If 18+ is not suitable please bring in a 21+ than, because i really don't want to have to import games from New Zealand or the USA because they have R+ system. I don't normally write to Governer Generals and i am sorry if my spelling is bad but damn i feel so passionate about this subject. Please please i am begging that you reconsider. You need to realize the oflc goes on how real the violence looks and with graphics getting better and better whats going to happen.

I don't see why we can;'t have a 21+ rating or even a 23+ it really doesn't matter as long as games don't get banned. Please i am begging here don't make people import games and send Australian money overseas.

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

here is mine

Quote

Dear Sir,
Your refusal to allow the majority to get on with the job of having a fair ratings system in this country and bring into line all media under the same ratings system, is an affront to the notion of having a democracy in the first place. Even if you disagree with implementing a fair rating system for video games, surely you are not blind to see that the majority does want this. Your flouting of the constitution of this country and obvious grand standing, is ill conceived at best, and at worst is sticking two fingers up at the rest of us. In asking the clear majority to succumb to your outdated and quite frankly sir, ridiculous notions of adults not being able to decide for themselves what is and isn’t best for them, just completely flies in the face of my and many others take on the use of democratic process. I implore you to think about this in a reasonable manner rather than just rubber stamping something that affects a great deal of people who find your previous blockings of the R+ system for video games almost criminal. You do realise that games that could be rated R+ are instead passing as MA+ letting most children get a hold of them. Your logic is working in the reverse of what you believe in most cases and allowing children to easily obtain adult material. I look forward to you allowing an R+ system in this country my faith in the democratic processes of this country can be restored.

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