The Australian Public Is Largely Unoffended By RC'd Video Games 
R18+ Legislation Passes The House Of Representatives The R18+ Inquiry Recommends An Adult Rating For Video Games Be Passed 
UPDATE: The Coalition Push The R18+ Bill To An inquiry R18+ Will Be Put To Parliament In February — This May Take A While... 
EA Responds To Syndicate Being Refused Classification [Update] 
ACT’s Attorney General Simon Corbell has always been one of the most outspoken AsG in favour of an R18+ rating for Australia, so it makes sense that his state would be the first to put through R18+ legislation at a State level. If all goes to plan, ACT could be the first Australian state to officially pass an adult rating for games.
As part of the Classification Review, the Australian Law Reform Commission, with the help of Ubris, put together a survey on attitudes to high level content in the MA15+ to RC classification categories. According to the survey, participants were largely unoffended by video game content that had been refused classification.
R18+ legislation has taken its first tentative steps forward, passing through the House of Represenatives without amendment.
Earlier communication from the Classification Review has continually argued for an increased amount of industry regulation when it comes to classification in Australia and the final report, which was released today, reinforces these earlier statements. The final recommendations argue for an increased amount of industry co-regulation, and complete parity when it comes to classification.
After the R18+ classification bill was presented to Parliament on February 15, the Coalition asked that the bill be sent for an inquiry. That inquiry has now come back with the clear recommendation that the amendments to the Classification Act be made, and that an R18+ rating for video games should be implemented in Australia.
On February 15 Jason Clare introduced the R18+ classification amendment to parliament, taking the first step towards implementing an adult rating for video games in Australia. Since then, we learned that the Coalition requested that the proposed bill will be sent to an inquiry. That’s disappointing, but for now let’s enjoy — if that’s the right word — watching Jason Clare present the proposed amendment to Parliament, via the wonder of youtube!
We’ve just heard word from Ed Husic, MP for Chifley, who has tweeted that the Coalition has asked that the R18+ bill be sent for an inquiry.
Gamespot is reporting that an R18+ rating for games will be put to Federal Parliament on February 7, which is the first step required for an adult rating to be introduced in Australia.
Yesterday Syndicate was refused classification as a result of “repeated and realistic post mortem damage which exceeds strong in playing impact”. Now EA has issued a statement in response.
We’ve just received a copy of the Classification Board’s report on Syndicate, which explains why the game was refused classification.
