Australia finally moves to introduce R18+ games rating

22 July 2011

In a significant victory for adults who prefer to make decisions for themselves, the Australian government has finally been persuaded to introduce an R18+ rating classification for games. Until now, the highest possible rating for a game down under was 15, effectively banning outright any content which couldn’t fit this category.

Which really doesn’t make much sense, considering the entire continent is a penal colony. What haven’t those guys already seen?

Eight of Australia’s nine territories have agreed to introduce the new classification pending the approval of the proposed R18+ guidelines, although New South Wales abstained from the vote claiming further discussion was required. One would imagine that government-mandated censorship doesn’t require “further discussion” in any context whatsoever.

“This is a big step forward in the long-running debate on classification of computer games for adults,” says federal minister for home affairs Brendan O’Connor.

“Once introduced, the classification will afford adults the opportunity to view material designed for adults. It is a credit to all jurisdictions that the meeting has now been able to achieve agreement over what is a complex matter in classification policy.”

The process is expected to take “a couple of months”.

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