After almost ten years of debate, all of Australia's Attorney's General have agreed to implement an adult rating for video games. At last month's SCAG meeting, most Attorney's General agreed in principle to the introduction but NSW's representative, Greg Smith, abstained from the official vote in order to gather more information (this stemmed from being part of a new State Government - one that had not spent time researching the matter).

The following statement was given to ABC Technology and Games:

NSW GIVES IN-PRINCIPLE SUPPORT TO R18+ GAME RATING

The NSW Government has given its formal support for the introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games, according to Attorney General, Greg Smith SC.

Mr Smith said after a meeting of Federal and State Attorneys General in Adelaide that he expected NSW would join the agreement.

Cabinet has now given its "in-principle" support for the introduction of the R18+ rating.

"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. ''

Mr Smith said he would work with other Attorneys General on draft national guidelines that have been developed for a new ratings system. It would be important, he said, to ensure any proposal was in line with Federal and State Ministers' agreement to not dilute Australia's Refused Classification category.

In a further clarification given to ABC Technology and Games, Smith's office said, "We abstained from the general thumbs up for an R18+ rating in adelaide but said outside we suspect we would advise that we are... voting yes. We have done that... Think of this as finalising/formalising the support."

This means that draft guidelines will be formed which are expected to adjust the wording of the existing MA15+ category in order for it to be more restrictive while opening up the R18+ category to allow games that have previously been banned due to "violent impact" - such as Mortal Kombat 9 and the uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2. However, it has been stressed by all parties that some games will still be Refused Classification, which may mean that American Football game, Blitz The League, which allows team managers to use steroids, may still be banned because of drug use. It remains to be seen whether this and other controversially-banned games like Mark Ecko's Getting Up (featuring graffiti tagging), CrimeCraft (drug-like boosts), Reservoir Dogs and Postal 2 (extremely violent themes) will be allowed by the new system.