The Federal Government has introduced legislation to
establish an R18+ category for computer and video games in Australia.
Currently in Australia, the maximum legal classification for
games is MA15+. Games that are not considered suitable for children are refused
classification and banned.
In 2009, the Government received close to 60,000 submissions
in response to a discussion paper on the matter.
Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare says the legislation
is scheduled to come into effect at the start of next year.
"This will bring the classification categories for
computer games into line with existing categories used to classify films and
make the Australian classification regime more consistent with international
standards," he said.
The editor of Australian computer-gaming website Kotaku,
Mark Serrels, says an R18+ category has been a long time coming.
He says many games currently rated MA15+ are not suitable
for children, but their parents have no way of knowing.
"We need an R18+ rating so parents are aware of what
games are suitable for children and what games aren't," he said.
"This is something that has been going on for over a
decade now so it's really positive that this is happening."
A national telephone survey conducted by Galaxy in 2010
showed 80 per cent of the 2,226 people contacted said they supported the
introduction of an adults-only category for games.
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