After the SCAG meeting in July, the NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith abstained from voting on an R18+ rating for video games but signalled that, after consultation with his cabinet, he would most likely agree in principle to the rating. Today, Greg Smith has formally stated that he will give his in principle support to an R18+ rating for games in Australia.
“Few people would dispute the value of a classification system that helps keep adult material beyond the reach of children,” Mr Smith said.
“With strong classification guidelines in place, an R18+ rating should result in violent games currently rated MA15+ in Australia being reclassified as adults-only, as they already are in many other countries.”
The next step for all the Attorneys-General is to work on the revised guidelines discussed at the SCAG meeting. We’re expecting that once said guidelines are formalised they will be released to the public – fingers crossed we get the R18+ rating we deserve. We’ve heard rumblings that there have been some adjustments to the R18+ guidelines, but they haven’t been too severe. We won’t know for certain, however, until they’re finalised.
Thanks ABC!
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