Sample petitions have been mailed to each incumbent and shadow Attorney-General. A cover letter accompanied each sample petition.
This cover letter asked each incumbent and shadow Attorney-General for their support to help parents in understanding which games are suitable for over 18s and which games are not.
In addition, my conversations with each incumbent and shadow Attorney-General office focused on the following:
A: Do they support of an R18+ classification for PC and Video Games?
B: Do they want this issue on the agenda at the next SCAG meeting to be held 7th May, 2010 in Melbourne?
C: An invitation for each incumbent Attorney-General to our presentation. More news to follow on this subject.
As of today, we have 77,093 signed petitions – our message to the AGs is that both parents and core gamers clearly want an R18+ classification.
The following is an update as to what we know about each incumbent / shadow Attorney- General and their attitude towards a change in classification:
1) Mr. Robert McClelland, Federal Attorney-General -
According to a News Ltd article on the 3 March 2010 - Robert McClelland said “the discussion paper and public submissions could be on the agenda at the next attorneys-general meeting.”
I draw your attention that it “could” be on the agenda.
“The Australian National Classification Scheme is a co-operative scheme and these decisions are best made on that co-operative basis", Mr McClelland told reporters in Sydney today.
"They're usually made by consensus, but all the State and Federal governments will look at this report when it is presented."
Source
It is in our best interest for the classification issue to be on the agenda.
2) Mr. Brendon O'Connor, Minister of Home Affairs -
According to the Ministers department:
“The Commonwealth doesn’t have a position. We need consensus. It will be on the agenda. The interim report prepared by the Commonwealth Attorneys-General department will be made available to State and Commonwealth Attorneys-General.”
3) Mr. Simon Corbell, ACT Attorney-General -
“The ACT supports the introduction of an R18+ classification. This classification would ensure that games with adult content are sold only to adults and that the purchasers are fully aware of the content of the games. There is evidence that many people are purchasing games from overseas and over the internet, and because the games are not classified, they may have little or no information to enable them to determine whether this is something they truly want to view or use.”
Source
4) Mr. John Hatzistergos, NSW Attorney-General -
Below is the ‘official’ response to all queries regarding R18+ video games from the Attorney’s office.
"The NSW Government supports a national approach to classification based on public consultation.
The National Classification Scheme is based on the premise that classification decisions should represent the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. The position of Censorship Ministers on the issue of R18+ computer games should therefore be informed by views of the broader community.
The consultation process undertaken by the Commonwealth Government is an important step in achieving this. The NSW Attorney General will consider the outcomes of that consultation with other Censorship Ministers."
We’re looking forward to speaking to some more AGs as the SCAG meeting approaches… And we’ll have another update for you very soon.
Best,
Roland
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