R18+ Rating Passes Senate

[News Portal]

Excellent news overnight, as the upper house of Australian Parliament passed the R18+ ratings bill for video games. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare described it as a "big win for gamers", and posted his own blog entry about the issue, in which he states that "This isn't the end of our plans. Our classification system is based on media delivery that dominated the 1990s – films in cinemas, videos rented from the shop down the road, and computer games sold in cardboard boxes," and mentions continued reforms to address changing media delivery methods. All that remains now is for states and territories to pass their own legislation, and hopefully we'll make the January 1 2013 deadline.

Source: APH, Jason Clare. Thanks to Sathias for bringing this to our attention!

Read full article by GON News

[PinothyJ]

I heard the end of this on my morning wake-up alarm and was ready to take on the morning with a smile on my dial…

[DarKnode]

Common sense prevailed? I don't know this world anymore.

[Bek]

My first thought..

[wyver]

All I can say is that this is a big win for us gamers who are adults. We no long have to be hand held and told what we can watch and play anymore this is the right step in the good direction

[PalZer0]

I'm not gonna get too excited until I see an R18+ game on the shelves.

Having said that, I'll buy it anyway just to say "I bought the first R18+ game in Australia".

[caitsith01]

We no long have to be hand held and told what we can watch and play anymore

Um... yes we do. The categories of things we are allowed to watch and play has just been expanded slightly.

[meji]

We no long have to be hand held and told what we can watch and play anymore

Um... yes we do. The categories of things we are allowed to watch and play has just been expanded slightly.

Yep, those hoping this means all that vulgar jap **** will suddenly be freely available is going to be sorely disappointed.

[Elmtailye]

..'is for States and Territories to pass their own legislation'.

And therein the saga begins again.


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/19/oz_adult_games_classification/

[PalZer0]

With EB's distribution centre being based in QLD I hope they pass R18+ as I can just order from their website if NSW don't support it.

[Drakand]

another good step, heard this on radio this morning and glad someone suggested this news item

[PalZer0]

another good step, heard this on radio this morning and glad someone suggested this news item

I actually suggested it last night but didn't get credit.

[zakynthos]

this is good for gaming

[vcatkiller]

We no long have to be hand held and told what we can watch and play anymore

Um... yes we do. The categories of things we are allowed to watch and play has just been expanded slightly.

Yep, those hoping this means all that vulgar jap **** will suddenly be freely available is going to be sorely disappointed.

Well yes and no. I never imagine that will ever be available off the shelf (I hope not anyhow, they can keep their stinking porno visual novels to themselves ) but you can still quite easily order that stuff off the internet now anyways so...

Good to see some more steps in the right direction. R18 here we come!

[CelticAngel82]

good news indeed, now we can murder and rape bloody hookers corpses in game!