After many months of discussions with Senator Kate Lundy and her office, I am happy to announce that the PALGN petition – calling for an R18+ games ratings system – was yesterday tabled in the Australian parliament. We at PALGN have been rather vocal on this issue, and I believe we've expressed our views, thoughts and arguments in ways we can be proud of. PALGN is a community-based website and our readers have banded together with their friends, mums, dads and siblings to sign our important petition.
As Senator Lundy's office noted, our petition is the forth largest to be tabled in the Australian Senate in fifteen years. We obtained an overwhelming 89,210 signatures faster than any other petition count in Australian history. If you haven't had the chance to review the final BDO audit, please check it out here: http://www.game.com.au/18PlusRating.
You can take a look at the Senator Lundy’s speech at the following website:
http://www.katelundy.com.au/2010/11/23/adjournment-speech-supporting-an-r18-games-classification-in-australia/
Over the campaign, we have maintained a single focus – the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games, to help parents and guardians in understanding which games are suitable for children and which games are not. This message is one that resonates with Senator Lundy, who is also a parent and understands that adults need more information at retail to help them make better purchasing decisions.
As for the arguments put forward by those against an R18+ video games rating, we will be responding to those comprehensively well before the December 10 Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting. On a personal note, and also as a gaming enthusiast, let me say it is our mission to change Australia’s media classification laws. It may not be over yet, but we are getting much closer.
Thank you to all those that signed our petition!
Best,
Roland
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