Michael Atkinson steps down from his Attorney-General position

PALGN News | Will no longer be able to veto R18+ rating.

Michael Atkinson unexpectedly announced this morning that he will be stepping down from his Attorney-General position to retire to the South Australian back bench. The announcement was made at 10.45am this morning by Atkinson outside the church he attends.

The South Australian election is still on-going. There is currently a 7% swing towards the Liberals state-wide and a 12% swing against Michael Atkinson in Croydon. While it is highly likely Labour will remain in power and Atkinson will not lose his seat, this does indicate dissatisfaction from the electorate.

A new Attorney-General will need to be chosen for South Australia.

The impact of this on the R18+ rating for video games is significant. Michael Atkinson was the most vocal opponent. Not being in the Attorney-General position means he will no longer be able to veto an R18+ rating for video games. It is largely unknown what position the other Attorney-General's hold, while some have supported the change no others have been vocal in its opposition.

This move makes it even more important for the R18+ rating to be discussed at the next Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) on April 29th. At this point it is still unknown if it will be on the agenda.

More news as we find it.

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49 Comments

fupoisme

2 years ago

This is fantastic news. As long as his replacement supports the introduction of an R rating it might finally see the light of day in the near future.

Crank

2 years ago

I think we should all chip in and buy him a retirement present. Maybe a nice watch.

Receiving a ticking package from a group of gamers might freak him out a little, in light of his past comments, but that's a risk we will have to take.

And I'm sure the bikies will only be too happy to contribute...

ZeroX03

2 years ago

I jizzed myself.

ArcticWolf

2 years ago

Crank wrote

Receiving a ticking package.....

Crank wrote

I'm sure the bikies will only be too happy to contribute

To which one, the ticking package, or the watch?

Crank

2 years ago

The watch. The package is ticking because it has a watch in it. I thought I was pretty clear...

ArcticWolf

2 years ago

and this is why humour fails on the internet

Crank

2 years ago

I get that it was a joke, just didn't really add anything to the joke I had already made. That is why humour fails on the internet.

Moving on, let's all just hope and pray that whoever takes his place isn't just Atkinson 2.0, which I have to say is a distinct possibility. Plus there is still his legacy of ludicrous legislation to consider. Will his replacement look to overturn the censorship of R18+ DVD covers? I doubt it, but am hopeful.

This battle is won, but the war continues.

ArcherGrave

2 years ago

ArcticWolf wrote

and this is why humour fails on the internet

I understood him...

Also, people bitching about someone worse or labour can go suck a nut, NO ONE IS AS BAD AS HIM

oomlot

2 years ago

ArcherGrave wrote

Also, people bitching about someone worse or labour can go suck a nut, NO ONE IS AS BAD AS HIM

Clearly you know very little about Australian politics and politicians. And it's not about spelling, all politicians are bad.

aubergine

2 years ago

Wow, I never could have predicted this. In the end, only he could defeat himself...

Oh well, (pops cork) cheers.

Azza

2 years ago

Crank wrote

...let's all just hope and pray that whoever takes his place isn't just Atkinson 2.0...

My money's on Mecha-Atkinson, actually.

In all seriousness, I'm already naked, only wearing a top hat.

Y'know, celebrating.

el_rezzo

2 years ago

Pure awesome. Get some younger blood with a idea of what goes on these days in the position.

Macka

2 years ago

Great news

While the fight for an R18+ rating is far from over, Atkinson stepping down is a huge leap in that direction

Cian

2 years ago

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

This news makes going back to work tomorrow slightly more bearable.

Jarrod

2 years ago

I saw your post Joseph. Probably best you deleted it.

JackSlack

2 years ago

Mature take: Much as this sounds like good news, I can't help but think that the same government is in power. If they replace him with someone like him, it could be an even longer, harder slog.

Immature take: NO! No, damn you! You're not allowed to quit until we BOOT you out!

Mush Man

2 years ago

I never really hated Atkinson, I just thought he had it wrong. I'm glad he left for strictly family reasons, since if he left as a reaction to the infrequent but unacceptable abuse he's received from gamers, that would only look bad on us.
Atkinson has been an interesting opponent, and I think we've all learnt a lot through these events.

GooberMan

2 years ago

mikezilla2 wrote

what dos that mean for said internet filter ?

Probably nothing.

If Rann manages to hold on to this victory, I wouldn't expect him to piss the public off any further by putting in an AG that's basically Atkinson v2. The first by-election that comes along will kill his government. I'd be very interested to see how Rann behaves in that climate, and it ties back to what I was saying in another thread - any one side in complete dominance is always a bad thing.

JackSlack

2 years ago

Never underestimate the comfort a government can feel knowing they have years before facing election again, Goober. Any government with a huge loss will react in one of two ways: They'll radically shift to try and strip away their opponent's advantages, or they'll look to shore up their base.

And I'm genuinely uncertain which one we want them to do in this case.

GooberMan

2 years ago

JackSlack wrote

Never underestimate the comfort a government can feel knowing they have years before facing election again, Goober.

That's the thing, though. Atkinson decided to not quit straight away because a by-election would kill the government. If that thought is first and foremost at the start of a government's term, I'm really curious to put all the nihilism and cynicism behind and see what actually happens. I'm not a political analyst or historian, but if the Labor government forms there hasn't been another government like it in recent history that I can think of.

Cyph

2 years ago

Good news, but as Sinthesys pointed out, it could have been better. Atkinson could have avoided this if he pulled his head out of the sand and listened to his constituents. And for my two cents, I reckon he was encouraged to leave, a 11% swing is fairly major.

dimefan90

2 years ago

YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Fetidchimp

2 years ago

I think he has damaged one of his kids far more than any game by calling him johnno...

JackSlack

2 years ago

It looks like videogame violence...

<puts on shades>

... claimed another victim.

dimefan90 wrote

YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

jedi022

2 years ago

Good to see the back of him. Hopefully a more rational individual will take over and we can all look forward to placing this absurd debate in the history books.

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