Another Australian AG Puts the Brakes on R18+ Ratings

[Andy Chalk]

Another Australian AG Puts the Brakes on R18+ Ratings

The Australian state of New South Wales is threatening to derail the country's R18+ game rating process for at least another year by refusing to vote on the issue until further studies are done.

The wheels are really starting to come off the Australian R18+ videogame rating train. First came news yesterday that the state of South Australia was preparing to move unilaterally to ditch the MA15+ rating [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111703-South-Australia-Continues-to-Make-Life-Difficult], a move which would throw the entire Australian rating process into disarray, and now New South Wales is threatening to scuttle the entire process for at least another year by refusing to vote on the issue at all.

A spokesman for NSW Attorney General Greg Smith said Smith will not be voting on the question of R18+ ratings for videogames when it comes up at Friday's meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys General. "We're not going down a definitive route," the rep told GameSpot Australia [http://au.gamespot.com/news/6323864/nsw-set-to-derail-upcoming-r18-decision]. "More work needs to be done on this issue. We want to wait to see the results of the ALRC [Australian Law Reform Commission] classification review."

Smith is just one among eight state-level AGs but the implementation of an R18+ rating for videogames requires unanimous consent, so if Smith abstains, the process cannot move forward. That's how former South Australia Attorney General Michael Atkinson was able to roadblock the process for so many years; the only difference is that Atkinson wasn't even willing to discuss the matter.

It's always possible that Smith will change his mind and cast a vote in favor of the rating but if he sticks to his guns, everything will grind to a halt until at least early 2012, which is the soonest that the ALRC review is expected to finish. Sorry, Aussies.


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[uguito-93]

COME F*CKING ON!! For every Michael Atkinson down, another one with an even more idiotic reason takes his place! At least this guy technically isn't against it.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

Anyone surprised by this at all? The system is set up in such a way that halting progress is child's play. It's more likely that the system will crumble and reform than it is for the decision to unanimously pass the numerous channels and get through.

CAPCHA: mother approved. Ironic.

 

[MindBullets]

"Further studies"? How about all the other freaking countries with 18+ ratings and aren't full of serial killers? Is that enough evidence for you?

 

[HK_47]

I'm not surprised, it'll be years before we have a R18 rating, simply because the people making the decision is made by people who believe the huge majority of those who play games (I wont use the term gamer because I'm certain they think there's no such thing as a gamer)are young children.

As a huge political nerd and active in politics (in the greens) its clear that neither Labor nor Liberal governments are going to do anything that may upset the conservative vote. Even if the state attorney general's, the federal government will try and block it as a result of talks with the christian lobby.

Ultimately it will one-day go ahead,but only if the federal government pushes it.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Jesus Christ, these guys are thick.

And what kind of idiotic system requires unanimous consent when simple (or 2/3) majority is a much better and more democratic system.

Wasn't the government supposed to put an end to this shit?

 

[HK_47]

You are absolutely right Macgyvercas, but unfortunately our federal Constitution and all the separate state constitutions cause very vague as to how you go about this kind of thing.

And no the no Australian government has really said it would change its stance, the most any has gone is the federal referring it to the states, ultimately saying if all the states agree then yes I will pursue it.

 

[teh_Canape]

look at that face

look at that fucking face and tell me you would trust that guy's word

 

[samsonguy920]

Sorry, friends down under, you are gonna have to wait another year.

 

[rufuslives]

It's not like saying yes will immediately create an R rating for games, we all know that there will be further work needed before it becomes law, eg the full classification review currently being undertaken in this country. All these guys need to do is give an in principal approval of the rating and they can stop being hassled about a decision they should have made A FREAKIN DECADE ago!

 

[jackanderson]

And lo! A collective, giant and deafening "COME ON!" was screamed by the Australian Public. And the rest of the world took pity upon them for being stuck with such a universally borked ratings system and system of government.

I feel this is appropriate...

 

[42]

This is Bullshit. The people want it, the submissions have been made, people want the fricking R18+ rating for videogames. WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT? Next thing you know theres going to be a classification tax. oops better not say that they might listen because they don't know sarcasm. stupid carbon tax. I HATE LIVING HERE IN AUSTRALIA WHEN WE HAVE FOOLS RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT.

 

[kalt_13]

WE HAVE FOOLS RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT.

Honestly do you thik any other country's government is different?

 

[MercurySteam]

Great, now even my own state is run by heavyweight douch-nozzles. How maany more studies do we have to do beofre we need to break down their door and make them sign for an R18+ rating?

 

[Low Key]

This is interesting timing. South Australia was going to pull a move that would have pissed everyone off even more, but that couldn't be done for another year if another region completely abstained from voting. Is this a slick move for the greater good or just a matter of coincidence?

 

[Dalek Caan]

We can all guess what Yahtzee is going to say about this. Anyway this is completely stupid. They really need to sort themselves out.

 

[Royas]

I'm really puzzled how this works, not being from Australia. How is it that one person can stop the rating system from being changed? Isn't there some kind of central law making body that can make changes like that with the force of law? I understood that there was a central parliament in Australia, I would think that this body would be able to override anything this AG might want. Shouldn't the campaign for the mature rating be aimed there?

I'm not trying to sound ignorant or rude here, I'm honestly a bit confused on how this works.

 

[Radelaide]

Brendan O'Conner will come to the rescue. He's pretty much said that if they don't agree, he's going over their heads and putting it in anyway.

I'm really puzzled how this works, not being from Australia. How is it that one person can stop the rating system from being changed? Isn't there some kind of central law making body that can make changes like that with the force of law? I understood that there was a central parliament in Australia, I would think that this body would be able to override anything this AG might want. Shouldn't the campaign for the mature rating be aimed there?

I'm not trying to sound ignorant or rude here, I'm honestly a bit confused on how this works.

In Australia, the rating system isn't a fedral thing. Decisions to change classifications have to be agreed upon by each state and territory's Attorney General. Unfortunately, these AG's are all of different moral beliefs and completely out of touch with the general population.

It needs to be a federal thing and not a state thing.