This past Easter break I was in Adelaide for a family reunion. While waiting for the rental car paperwork to get processed, I picked up the local metro newspaper, The Advertiser, and discovered some well placed points-of-view on the R18+ rating for PC and Video Game issue.
Given that I had received a phone call from John Rau’s office a couple of days prior to the recent SCAG meeting in Melbourne, I think you’ll find the following an interesting read.
First Point-of-View
The Editor of The Advertiser, Melvin Mansell, wrote an editorial feature with the headline “It’s time to act on video game ratings”. He presented a point-of-view that, from where I sit, mirrors PALGN / GAME press releases.
Mansell went on to say, “the gaming lobby has collected tens of thousands of names on petitions calling for the introduction of an R18+ classification.” (No mention that in just 8 weeks the PALGN / GAME “wet signature” petition count surpassed the November 2005 “Work Choices” online petition count of 85,189. And, to think, “Work Choice” was a driver, among others, that brought down the Howard Government.)
“Only the ACT Government has come out to support of an R18+ classification, during the Federal Government’s inquiry into the issue.”
“Former Attorney-General Michael Atkinson was the most vocal opponent of the R18+ classification. His replacement John Rau has so far been silent on the issue and needs to remove himself from the fence in the near future.”
“This is an issue that is not going to go away. The Federal Government now has the chance to formulate a policy that satisfies the overriding need to protect our children from inappropriate material, and also reform a system that already allows it.”
Second Point-of-View
On a different page of the newspaper Miles Kemp from The Advertiser wrote a story with the headline “Why ban on sex and violence must stay”.
Kemp continued, “Australia should keep its ban on R18+ games because children could be damaged by the act of participating in simulated violence and sex, says Guardian for Children Pam Simmons.”
Ms Simmons who is the woman in charge of protecting the rights of children in SA, said “people should understand that watching simulated domestic violence, for example, on a DVD was totally different from getting involved or children watching parents or older siblings getting involved. We are talking about high-impact violence including sexual and domestic violence and the game participation in drug use.”
Simmons went onto say, “there was new evidence as recently as two weeks ago showing the link between the actual participation of violence in games and violent behaviour.”
“No matter how well we think it will be controlled, we cannot control everything, and there will be situations where children are using the games, watching older siblings or adults playing them,” she said.
Miles Kemp continued “Victims of Crime Commissioner Michael O’Connell said while R18+ violence in movies was clearly entertainment, participating in make-believe violence in a game created less empathy.
“Participating in make-believe violence does have the potential to minimize the understanding the player has on the effect that violence will have on other people, continued O’Connell.
Third Point-of-View
Again, on a different page of the newspaper The Advertiser wrote a story with the headline “ALP pledge on R+ games”.
“AUSTRALIAN Christian Lobby SA claims Labor has given a written promise to oppose introduction of an R18+ classification for violent and sexualized video games. Director Rob Ward said the party responded to a pre-election survey indicating changes to the current regime would harm children.”
Mr Ward said, “the pledge throws cold water on suggestions Attorney-General John Rau will agree to reform, and contradict, his predecessor’s opposition to the classification.”
Before I knew it, the car rental documentation had been processed. It felt like one of the shortest, hassle free waits I’ve ever had in a car rental office. Separately, from my side, the journey continues. We now move to phase 2.
Best,
Roland
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