Australia to overturn adult video game ban

22 Jul 2011, 4:20 pm   -   Source: AAP
3 Comments
Share This
+ Comment
3
A new adult 18 plus category is set to be introduced. (Getty)

A new adult 18 plus category is set to be introduced. (Getty)

Gamers in all Australian states except NSW should soon be able to buy 18+ video games after years of protests against the ban.

Gamers in all Australian states except NSW should soon be able to buy 18+ video games after years of protests against the ban. 

All other Australian states agreed to adding a new R18+ category for computer games after a meeting between state and territory attorneys-general and the Government today.

Justice Minister Brendan O’Connor says the category will help prevent teenagers and children accessing unsuitable material.

The plan will allow for some games which now sell with an MA15+ rating to be reclassified as R18+ and only available to adults.

NSW abstained from endorsing the agreement but will consider the proposal.

Despite years of protests by fans, games which do not reach the R15+ category guidelines are currently banned across Australia.

Mr O'Connor said the new classification would finally see Australia catch up with the rest of the world.

"We've had a situation where too many games have been in the MA category," he said. "Once introduced, the new classification will also afford adults the opportunity to view material designed for adults."

Gamers have spent years lobbying for an adults-only rating, while a national survey of more than 2200 people last year found 80 per cent support for the idea.

NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith said NSW would consider the agreement and several amendments included in the draft proposal.

While it endorsed the plan, South Australia will move to abolish the MA15+ category altogether, moving all such games into the R18+ category.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

Thank god

Nicholas Williams - from Victoria, 10 months ago

Finally they've got some sense into them!!!!

Braindead

George - from Bexley, 10 months ago

Really NSW and O'Farrell government??? Get your act together!

Finally

Erin - from Adelaide, 10 months ago

About time. This has been going on for years. Hopefully the drafting won't take another how ever many years.

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.