R 18+ computer game legislation introduced
Jason Clare posted Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Today I introduced laws into the Australian Parliament to establish an R 18+ category for computer games.
The public consultation that was conducted over the past two years showed a lot of public support for this reform.
In 2009 the Attorney-General’s Department received 58,437 submissions about the introduction of an R18+ category.
98 per cent of these supported the introduction of an R 18+ category.
At the moment the highest legally available classification category for computer games is MA15+.
Games which are not suitable for a minor to play are Refused Classification.
This will bring the classification categories for computer games into line with existing categories used to classify films.
It will also bring Australia into line with the classification systems in many countries overseas.
The new R 18+ category will inform gamers, parents and retailers about which games are not suitable for minors to play and prevent minors from being able to purchase them.
The Federal Government has worked together with State and Territory Governments on this issue and they will also introduce laws which complement the Federal laws.
Our laws are scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2013.
More information about the bill and how it will be passed through the Parliament can be found at here.