Australian Government Threatens Game Classification System Reform - Polidicks

[quote]A wide-ranging shake-up of the Classification Act could be on the cards if there is no agreement to change the rating system for computer games. Any change to the classification system needs unanimous support from the Commonwealth, states and territories. [b]The Federal Government has given state and territory attorneys-general until July to decide whether to introduce an R18+ classification for video games.[/b] Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says after a decade of debate, it is crunch time. [b]"We're becoming the laughing stock of the developed world, where we're the only country that doesn't have an R18 classification level for video games.[/b] "I foreshadow that if there is not a consensus around this issue, the Commonwealth will certainly be considering other options because we cannot continue to have [b]an outdated classification system that's actually, in my view, causing harm to young people[/b]." The Federal Government says reforming the system will help protect children, inform parents and give adult gamers more choice. "I'm not going to let this matter end because it's too important to allow one or two jurisdictions to stop the majority of jurisdictions in this country moving on an important reform," Mr O'Connor said. "But can I say my very strong preference is to have consensus around the table in July." Kat Nicholson from the lobby group Gamers4Croydon says it would help protect children and give adults more choice. "It would be better for gamers. It would be better for children. It would be better for their parents. It would be win-win for all concerned," she said. Currently in Australia games classed above MA15+ are refused classification and cannot be brought into the country. Groups supportive of a R18+ classification for videos games have said many video games that are rated 18+ overseas are being squeezed into the MA15+ rating in Australia, meaning they are in the hands of a younger audience. Only a small number of video games have been banned from release in Australia, with companies preferring to submit an edited version of a game for classification. The Australian Christian Lobby has led the charge against introducing an R18+ classification, saying it would make it easier for children to access violent games.[/quote] Source: [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/16/3165063.htm[/url] It's about fucking time.

Bring it Austrailia I'll kick your ass, come at me, bro! I'll bite ye' dick off!

[QUOTE=J!NX;28633165]Bring it Austrailia I'll kick your ass, come at me, bro! I'll bite ye' dick off![/QUOTE] :what:

O'Connor: Straight to the point, no bullshit. We need more people like him down here.

Bravo, my good sir, bravo. :golfclap:

If only SCAG was full of men like this guy

[quote]The Australian Christian Lobby has led the charge against introducing an R18+ classification, saying it would make it easier for children to access violent games.[/quote] How exactly would it make it easier for kids to get hold of violent games? 1. You need ID to purchase a game rated MA15+, or R18+ 2. 15 year olds can currently get their hands on games that were meant for those above the age of 18, so the introduction of an R18+ rating would make it harder for younger people to get more violent games... Even if parents buy these games for their kids, it's the parents responsibility, it's exactly the same as taking your kids to see an MA15+ film. God they're a bunch of twats that are afraid of change for the better.

whipped this up just now [img]http://imm.io/media/4n/4nIH.png[/img]

[QUOTE=ZakkShock;28633182]:what:[/QUOTE] Then I'll suck yours :smug:

It won't happen

[QUOTE=Atokniro;28633310]If only SCAG was full of men like this guy[/QUOTE] You drop that acryonym as if it's obvious and well known. lol Hopefully we will see the change come July, however if we don't, I doubt Labor will put the resources to have the classification criteria changed through legislation. [editline]16th March 2011[/editline] And I doubt we will see change. [editline]16th March 2011[/editline] Come July. Oh, ACL, why do you have so much power?

Let's be honest, this isn't a very important political matter by political party standards, but lets hope this actually happens at July

[QUOTE=DogGunn;28633768]You drop that acryonym as if it's obvious and well known. lol Hopefully we will see the change come July, however if we don't, I doubt Labor will put the resources to have the classification criteria changed through legislation. [editline]16th March 2011[/editline] And I doubt we will see change. [editline]16th March 2011[/editline] Come July. Oh, ACL, why do you have so much power?[/QUOTE] That's funny, I don't know what acl means :v:

[quote] The Australian Christian Lobby has led the charge against introducing an R18+ classification, saying it would make it easier for children to access violent games.[/quote] Yeah, because restricting games to adults makes it easier for a child to access. :downs:

Result: Some already 15+ games will be tagged 18 Videogames will still be banned due to violence :v:

[QUOTE=Falchion;28634214]Result: Some already 15+ games will be tagged 18 Videogames will still be banned due to violence :v:[/QUOTE] They will only banned if they exceed the R18 rating

[QUOTE=Atokniro;28634006]That's funny, I don't know what acl means :v:[/QUOTE] that was the joke :p But Australian Christian Lobby

Good, looks like the Federal government will unilaterally go forward with this. [editline]17th March 2011[/editline] ACL is one of the few organisations who, if every single one of their members died in a horrific accident, I would not feel any tinge of sympathy whatsoever. Scum of the earth.

[QUOTE=Contag;28634315] ACL is one of the few organisations who, if every single one of their members died in a horrific accident, I would not feel any tinge of sympathy whatsoever. Scum of the earth.[/QUOTE] That's exactly what I think about american soldiers and people keep telling me im wrong.

Maybe they'll stop censoring and banning every game that is released now?

[QUOTE=Falchion;28634434]That's exactly what I think about american soldiers and people keep telling me im wrong.[/QUOTE] Agreedo, but American troops are often mislead by their recruiter/don't have a choice/only way to break out of the poverty line. Although that has nothing to do w/ the thread...

[QUOTE=Falchion;28634434]That's exactly what I think about american soldiers and people keep telling me im wrong.[/QUOTE] Well, you are :911:

The entire problem with Australia is having a government run rating system. The US has an industry run rating system that is not enforceable and that works a thousand times better than Australia's "ban everything" system.

It's like, 3 games? L4D2, that Mortal Kombat one and um................

[QUOTE=JLea;28634507]It's like, 3 games? L4D2, that Mortal Kombat one and um................[/QUOTE] Manhunt 2?

"Threatens" was the wrong word. I came into this thread thinking the Australian Government were planning to make the classification system even more draconian.

[QUOTE=Falchion;28634214]Result: Some already 15+ games will be tagged 18 Videogames will still be banned due to violence :v:[/QUOTE] it seems you cant grasp the concept of the r18 rating

[QUOTE=JLea;28634507]It's like, 3 games? L4D2, that Mortal Kombat one and um................[/QUOTE] Hardly violent compared to many I have seen.

[QUOTE=sltungle;28634534]Manhunt 2?[/QUOTE] that was years and years ago

[quote][B]We're becoming the laughing stock of the developed world, where we're the only country that doesn't have an R18 classification level for video games.[/quote] [/B]He's not wrong there.