The Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals were meant to meet this month to discuss, amongst other topics, the issue of video game classification in Australia. Thanks to the upcoming Federal Election, that meeting has been cancelled.
The cancellation is a blow to those hoping for a swift resolution to the proposal of introducing an R18+ rating for video games.
After a period of public consultation on the R18+ issue, which saw an unprecedented number of submissions from the Australian people, SCAG met in May to acknowledge the submissions and debate the topic.
However, the only public statement to emerge from the meeting read:
“Ministers agreed to discuss whether to amend the National Classification Scheme to introduce an R 18+ classification for computer games at a future meeting. Ministers have requested further analysis of community and expert views.”
Since May we’ve heard from Liberal leader Tony Abbott that our classification system is “broken” and from former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie that most of SCAG is pro R18+.
After the cancellation of the planned July get-together, that “future meeting” will now take place in Canberra on November 4-5.
[Thanks Sam, for the tip!]
feneck
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:05 AMNovember 4th… *sigh*
I’m gonna need my stress ball again now.
Ross Moir
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:13 AMSON OF A B****!
I can understand why, but it still hurts.
It’s starting to feel like they’re stalling because they know what type of storm making a decision could kick up.
zable
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:24 AMSTARTING to feel like it? they never had a legitimate reason to ban R rated games, they just avoid it because of the bad rep they would recieve from people who do not properly know the situation. this is a democracy, and im fairly sure EVERY pole, survery and interview they have done, they have recieved overwhelming support for an R rating. im getting sick of this generational difference of opinion. also, i think this particullar pushback of the date is solely because of election year.
Jeremy Hore
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 12:16 PM“This is a democracy”
There’s your problem.
People vote on not just one issue, but all issues. If the government were run by having the entire population vote on each issue before making changes to or creating legislation, then nothing would ever be done.
Instead, we each vote once every three years for each jurisdiction based upon whomever we feel would best represent our interests.
It will eventually happen, but not as soon as people want.
drunkspleen
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 3:06 PMunless that is you elect someone from the “Senator Online” party.
You can’t really let the general populace in on the policy making, but I think it would be good if the people’s actual votes on each issue could affect the senate’s passing of bills and legislation.
Qumulys
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:21 AMAll together now!!
1
2
3
*SIGH*
Mig
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:39 AMBooooo Hissssss
OrderOfFaith
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:47 AMIf Labor jump on the R18 band wagon, they’d probably sell the majority of the gamers with FTTH AND R18 classification.
Otherwise it’ll be R18 and wireless broadband/satellite crap.
Hmmm which is it..
R18, Fibre Optic and Filter
or definite R18 classification, crappy internet still, and no filter.
Chris Prior
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:23 PMUh, the Liberal party has not said it supports an R18+. Abbott said the rating system. You know who else said it was broken? Atkinson. “Broken” is a word he’s using to get gamers hopeful and, naively, vote for him. He is more conservative than Atkinson. He will not support an R18+. Besides, Abbott as PM doesn’t change the fact that the other AGs need to agree.
Nor have they committed to kill the filter. Given the general conservatism of the party, it’s good odds that anything anti-filter they say is, again, designed to get people hoping. Even if they are committed to blocking the filter, they can do that in the senate. Between them, the Liberal party and the Greens are almost certain to have the numbers in the senate after the election.
These are *not* federal election issues to decide your vote on.
More election coverage (from gamers) at bothkindsofpolitics.org if you’re interested – and D.W. lets me keep the plug
Dean
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 2:46 PMI always thought that speech was a classic example of dog whistle politics. To normal Australians, “broken” signifies that it is far too restrictive and bans many things that a normal person would consider “OK” for a consenting Adult.
But to the Christian far right, “broken” signifies that it’s not restrictive *enough* and should be expanded to include MORE…
Chris B
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 7:41 PM@Dean
How did Christian come into this? I believe the majority of sane Christians would prefer an R18 rating, given that games which should be R have made it into this country at MA.
The only people arguing against this rating, are..
Actually I’m not sure of the scientific word for “f****ed”.. Must look that one up.
Robby
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:53 AMThe ALP will continue to ignore/put off the reclassification as long as the almighty Australian Christian Lobby continue to oppose it.
Dean
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:34 PMI said the Christian *far right*. That basically means the Australian Christian Lobby, and groups like that. You’re right that it’s not ALL Christians, but the ACL is the poster child for the sort of group that this would appeal to.
Dean
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:34 PMOops, clicked the wrong “Reply”. That was to “Chris B” above…
Mark Martin
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 12:01 PMWith the Federal Election coming up, I would vote for any Minister even the Devil aka Tony Abbott if he was supporting an R18+ rating for games.
Yep I’m that desperate!
Flux
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 12:40 PMDude, don’t even joke about that – there’s no way Abbott would be able to take a progressive stance on ratings classification without upsetting his ultra-conservative Christian base. It’s like assuming that Abbott is against the internet filter just because he’s never actively announced that he’s pro-filter. He and the ACL are just letting Labor do the dirty work for him. Why Labor are so happy to comply just smacks of dog-whistle politics.
And besides, this is an issue that belongs to an association of Attorneys-General from the states, not a federal issue.
StudiodeKadent
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:39 PMIf it helps, the LNP in Queensland has passed a resolution condemning the Federal Government’s planned internet filter.
Yes. The conservative party in (arguably) the most conservative state. The resolution passed by a substantial majority, too.
Lets make it clear; social conservatism is a BIPARTISAN phenomenon in Australia. The working class union base of the ALP is full of racists, sexists and homophobes.
Tony Abbot is, unfortunately, someone with a personal morality that is socially conservative. But hot-button social issues like abortion, assisted suicide (I think) and, yes, the R18 rating for video games, are decided at STATE LEVEL.
Abbot, if elected to PM, would not be able to impose his social agenda without violating the Constituion.
NegativeZero
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:10 PMYou could always vote for the Greens. Pretty sure they do support the R18+ classification, and they oppose the internet censorship plan to boot.
Isaac Hendry
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:45 PMWell seeing as G4C decided not to run I’m voting Greens, maybe if we are lucky we can get a hung parliament (not bloody likely) and while I am of the opinion that if Tony Abbot becomes PM a move to a more technologically friendly country may be on the cards, I’m really not loving Gillard.
Jerom Tait
Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 5:17 PMThis thing here. Lol.
Not bloody likely INDEED.
Justin
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 3:41 PMWhat he said ^
Andreas
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 12:41 PMAwesome, so I’ll just keep importing all my games exclusively.
I have not idea who I would vote for Labour / Liberal. They both make me sick.
Wake up Australia.
James Mac
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:03 PMI wonder which “expert views” they’ll be seeking.
Ross Moir
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:17 PMTony Abbott and Peter Beatie have spoken, but if you’re looking for experts, international industry members have put there opinions in the arena.
James Mac
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 2:22 PMDude I think you missed my point.
They’ve already had dozens of experts opinions.
I was insinuating that their experts were going to be people who already agreed with them.
Chuloopa
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:18 PMluckily i’m not holding my breath… otherwise i would be long dead by now
DKnight1000
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:45 PMProtecting the Children is a joke of a reason.
If it was really about protecting children they would have banned R18+ Movies, Alchohol and Tobacco, because they are bad/dangerous for kids. Except you try and Ban R18+ Movies (for the same reason you have not introduced R18+ games) and the entire country would go nuts. The same with Alchohol and Tobacco.
Sam Timmins
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 2:25 PMNo worries David! My pro-R18 Facebook page lacks the number of people to tell, so I also spread the word to Kotaku!
(if my group link can also go here, that’d be awesome. http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=110767468939052 )
Tracey
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 3:39 PMGet on that next available flight to Europe. Stay FOREVER!
Matt
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:49 PMnot suprised, whats the delay count up to now?
boo goose
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:19 PMNovember 4-5??
Just in time to be canceled by the victorian election. Though if it still goes ahead I will personally drive the victorian from his campaign office to the meeting just to vote on this one thing. Micky from the south was a giant dick, he probably could not help it but all this delay now is just plain anoying!!
Ayrton Coll
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 5:47 PM“Ministers have requested further analysis of community and expert views.”
what more do they need?! someone to tell them what 98% means????
James
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 1:36 AMWow, the government delaying action on an issue that may cause them to lose/gain voters weeks before an election *coughinternetfiltercoughcough*. I am SHOCKED.
The spineless politicians in this country make me sick, neither party give two shits about what is best for the country, nor have any coherent vison or serious, sensible policies for our nations future.
Instead they grasp at whatever straws they feel will help them stay in power (see labour on general lack of action on any serious issues and their hilarious “budget surplus by 2012-13″ promise) or regain power ( liberals “hey we’ll do the opposite of labour on everything, and cut spending, but hey interest rates totally won’t go up”)
Whoever wins we lose.
Whatever....
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 11:54 PMHonestly, this doesn’t surprise me in the least. Of course the pollies are gonna delay the discussion, because they feel the issue ain’t that ‘important enough’. I mean, hey. The only people that’ll really be affected by any of this are us basement nerds. And who really cares what they think, right? RIGHT?!
Srsly, at this rate, we’d have more luck moving a beach one grain at a time……