Pirate Party Dismayed at Further Delay of R18+

Pirate Party Australia are dismayed by the perpetual delays regarding the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games.

The Party applauded the introduction of a bill to Parliament last Wednesday that would finally create an R18+ classification for video games[1]. The Government appears to have listened to the overwhelming public support for a new rating system that caters to the ever expanding video game market. Many games that would previously have been squeezed under the bar into the misleading MA15+ rating can now receive a more appropriate, far more informing rating.

“I am enthusiastic about an R18+ rating for video games entering our system. It will provide a far superior rating system for parents. However, it is important to watch this space closely, as poorly formed classification guidelines have the potential to create no greater flexibility, with ‘refused classification’ games such as Syndicate, that are perfectly legal to purchase and play around the world, to remain banned here in Australia,” commented David Campbell, President of Pirate Party Australia.

“I would be very disappointed if R18+ simply became ‘MA15++’. Expanding the framework to include another classification will have little to no effect if currently banned games, that are legal in every other country, will continue to be banned after the introduction of an R18+ rating,” said Brendan Molloy, Secretary of Pirate Party Australia.

However, despite the enormous public support for such legislation[2], the current bill has been stalled pending inquiry[3]. No reason is given, but with luck the bill to amend the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 could be returned to Parliament within a month.

The amendment would be big win for Australian parents who do not wish to expose their children to content which is produced for an older audience. The bill would also allow for other games which would have previously received a “Refused Classification” stamp to be available through Australian retailers to the ever growing ranks of adult gamers, bolstering local Australian retailers with the ability to offer adults the content which they would have previously needed to import from a region with a more progressive ratings system, such as Asia or Europe.

Pirate Party Australia also anxiously awaits the finalised Classification Guidelines for Computer Games that will be used to determine what will fall under an R18+ classification. Pirate Party Australia is still weary of the potential for R18+ for games to become another label within the current scheme; essentially an ‘MA15++’, with no potential for enabling greater access to games for adults.

The most recently proposed draft guidelines can be found here: http://www.classification.gov.au/www/cob/classification.nsf/page/informationcentre_proposeddraftguidelinesforr18+computergames

[1] http://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/ban-lifted-it-only-took-10-years-but-government-gives-r18-video-games-the-go-ahead/story-e6frfrt9-1226271652456

[2] http://www.ag.gov.au/Documents/FINAL%20REPORT.pdf

[3] http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115879-Australian-R18-Bill-Hits-a-Snag