SA Attorney-General to oppose R18+ classification

PALGN News | Give up hope.

A few days ago we reported that the Federal government would be once again discussing the issue of an R18+ rating for games in Australia.

In order for the rating legislation to change, the attorneys-general of each state must agree on the issue. In 2002, a proposal to introduce an R18+ rating was blocked because South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson did not support the changes.

Today a spokesperson for Michael Atkinson has told news.com.au that the Attorney-General will oppose the R18+ Rating for games, effectively putting down any hope of an R18+ rating being implemented for games in the near future.

"The Attorney-General remains very firmly opposed to introducing an R rating for computer games in Australia," the spokesperson said. Minister Atkinson would not consider an 18+ rating even if there were measures to protect children from being exposed to adult content, the spokesperson said.

"He doubts whether any safeguards could be put in place to deter young people, who after all [are] the most computer literate and savvy in our society, from being able to access material."

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70 Comments

rodvcpetrie

3 years ago

^That video pretty much sums it all up. Very emotional.

Annihilation

3 years ago

We could easily talk to Today Tonight or A Current Affair about this stuff.

About how not having a rating is pushing games that should be R18+ down to a MA15+ restricted. Even though they won't care about the gaming community, and I dont like the current affair shows, mothers live and breed of that **** and have shown interest in what things get certain ratings (ManHunt and Harry Potter movie).

If watching Chaser has taught me anything, its that current affair shows will do stories on almost anything

rodvcpetrie

3 years ago

Those types of shows are pretty bias and they don't always show the full story about both sides of any topic they investigate. It's all in the editing.

But the suggestion is still valid, it would be a tricky prospect though.

We all need to voice our opinions though and also spreading the word to your friends will help. Even if it may seem like there's no hope, it's better than being mired in despair.

brad_sickness

3 years ago

Island_Wolf wrote

I doubt an email will help. How often did an email changed a person's mind anyway?

Maybe we could send him the Tim Tams link and have him focus his hatred and negativity on something else.

Qbert

3 years ago

OK I've contacted Sunrise & the Today Show and it would be great if everyone else could as well. We really need to get the message out to the public, who probably have no idea that a R18+ rating doesn't exit for games.

Go here for sunrise. I don't watch it much, so I wasn't sure which ones to select, so i just sent similar messages to Sunrise team, ROSwall (which is a thing where you ask them questions for them to get answers iirc) and Suggest a Story.

For the Today Show here's the info..

By mail:
TODAY SHOW
PO BOX 27
WILLOUGHBY NSW 2068

By fax: 02 9436 1600

Phone: 02 9958 2899

Email us at today@nine.com.au

I just emailed them explaining the situation and that I think a story would be good etc. etc.

Still no word back from my email to Mr. Atkinson yet...

Karai Pantsu

3 years ago

Today Tonight? A Current Affair?!

Great... now I fully expect to see a 'special expose' next week about the dangerous culture of 'Video Gamers' - how they're harassing a pillar of the community and belligerently trying to shape the political landscape to their own needs. Throw in a some shaky cam footage of a dimly lit bedroom complete with empty coke can towers and a spotty teen hunched over a monitor, and a dubious interview with a 'specialist' about the threat of this dangerous new 'counter culture', and it'll be ready for the masses.

canetoad

3 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Zqaj7aEhA
^
Sunrise actually did a story on it a couple of days ago. It's run along more to the gamer's side of the argument and the "expert" brings up a lot of good points already brought up in this thread.

Fetidchimp

3 years ago

has anyone pointed out to this, cough, person yet, that consoles, like dvd players can be locked to not allow games above a certain rating to play on them, oh but that would be left up to the individual, and we can't have any of that, Damn! play me some filler Johnny!....

Toastfarmer

3 years ago

Not sure if this is good news or bad news.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23295644-5014239,00.html

Quote

The head of Australia's videogames industry body says there is a way to solve the R18+ videogame rating issue but the South Australian attorney-general has dismissed it as "pornography".

Ron Curry, chief executive of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia, said an R18+ rating could still be introduced into federal legislation.

The issue will be discussed for the first time since 2005 at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) next month.

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has reaffirmed his opposition to an R rating, which would prevent the full consensus required for legislative change.

However, Mr Curry said a classification can still be banned in one state even if it is permitted in Australia.

"In Queensland, they don't allow X-rated publications," he said

"Although it is legal federally."

"South Australia could not allow the sale of R-rated games within the state while it is allowed federally."

Mr Curry does not expect attorney-general Atkinson to change his stance.

"I can't see anything that's going to change the mind of the South Australian attorney-general," Mr Curry said.

"We're disappointed that he didn't wait for the SCAG meeting to find out what the content of the discussion was."

"We're disappointed that one state can interfere with what the majority may decide."

"So long as the current system is in place – that all attorneys-general must agree – then we've come to a standstill."

A spokesperson for attorney-general Atkinson confirmed he will not consider an alternative solution to change federal legislation.

"He is of the view that he is no longer a lone voice among Australia's attorneys-general in opposing this view," the spokesperson said.

"He will vigorously resist any attempts to see the classification changed to allow what he views as computer-generated pornography and depictions of extreme violence."

The SCAG meeting will be held on March 28.

DancesInUnderwear

3 years ago

Lets say, theoretically, this happened, and it was only SA that was unable to sell R games (which would clearly be super effective in stopping people in SA from getting them

), what happens with something like DVDcrave thats based in Adelaide? Would they not be able to sell them? Would they be allowed to sell them, but not to people in Adelaide?

RooRage

3 years ago

Cheers DancesInUnderwear. Will have a look at DVDcrave. Never realised we had an Adelaide based store.
I'm assuming that if R18+ games were banned in SA alone, we could always just cross the border and get them elsewhere or hopefully places like D-Store (based in QLD) would still mail them to us.

I'm currently penning my letter to Atkinson.
I have a friend who works in the SA political system and has also given me these addresses.

His Ministerial email address is: michael.atkinson@parliament.sa.gov.au
His secretary's email address is:
kosti.maria@agd.sa.gov.au

The email address on the Premiers and Ministers of SA page is:
attorney-general@agd.sa.gov.au

I say CC it on to all of them.

To think that with the average Aussie gamer being 28 and we can't have access to certain games... sheesh...

Jedi.Jell

3 years ago

My question: is any form of democratic vote used in electing an Attorney General? Because if not, all the emails in the world will achieve nothing.

Fly

3 years ago

Jedi.Jell wrote

My question: is any form of democratic vote used in electing an Attorney General? Because if not, all the emails in the world will achieve nothing.

An Attorney-General on a federal level needs to be a member of cabinet, in this sense the former AG (Ruddock, who incidentally was a bane to the anime crowd, being the chief parliament force to say "Ninja scroll needs to be R18+ or were banning it.") Pretty much though the AG is selected among the members of the cabinet since Ruddock was previously Immigration minister before his tenure.

On a state level, they have to be state minister in order to hold the position, but even civilians can work in the department. So in a sense the only democracy influencing who is an Attorney-General is associated with the actual party elections, subsequent to, unless they piss off their own you could probably get a no confidence and swap.

This is only off the top of my head, so I could be confusing some things.

Frozencry

3 years ago

Karai Pantsu wrote

It's 'counter-strike'.

RooRage

3 years ago

Jedi.Jell wrote

My question: is any form of democratic vote used in electing an Attorney General? Because if not, all the emails in the world will achieve nothing.

Possibly true...

However if he gets enough emails written maturely and with the right messages in them, he may consider things a little differently...
He may have the same opinion as he did in 2002 and just think "Oh they want porn and uberviolence in games again." *ticks the box for NO*

But if we can get it through to him that its about much more than that, he may reconsider or at least they may be available in the other states and hence us Adelaideans will just have to order games online...

Our actions may not lead to a positive outcome, but inaction will definitely lead to a negative outcome...

Be strong... Pen a letter... Show Atkinson that we mean business...

Skiller

3 years ago

Fly wrote

Jedi.Jell wrote

My question: is any form of democratic vote used in electing an Attorney General? Because if not, all the emails in the world will achieve nothing.

If that means that the AG isn't voted in the perhaps we should forward or CC our letters to his boss with the opinion that he is not doing his job correctly

Anonymous

3 years ago

Anthrox wrote

Hon. Michael Atkinson
Member for Croydon

Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Office:
488 Port Rd, Welland SA 5077
Tel: 8346 2462
Email: croydon@parliament.sa.gov.au

contact, email, snailmail get our voice heard!!
we will have R18 ratings in Australia!!

LOL Croydon, no wonder...

Er, sorry SoxyRob.

JackSlack

1 year ago

As an aside, guys?

This was all expected. Remember that. This isn't a setback, it's inside the game plan. Stay calm, think long view, and continue to be polite and smart, building public support.

Also, it may be worth, if you're not South Australian, sending a letter to your Attorney General, encouraging them to support R18+ ratings for games. They seem, after all, more persuadable.

Fetidchimp

1 year ago

ahhhhh, how did that just happen...?
Awesome necro though.....my hat is tipped...

RooRage

1 year ago

Holy crap!
I got slammed on one of internode's forums the other day for "necro-ing" (I hadn't heard of the word prior to that but wiki soon showed me the light of the 1337 way) a thread that was 2 days old!
And JackSlack's done it with one that's two years old!!
I think he might've done a search for "atkinson" and just mixed the dates up maybe...?
Or maybe he's just The Threadomancer...

JackSlack

1 year ago

... I have no idea how I posted to the wrong thread for this. I totally take the title of Threadromancer, though.

(Actually, yes I do. One, because I'm horrifically sleep deprived. Two, because the dates are similar by month and day -- That's what caught me.) Still, mea culpa.

STILL good advice, though.

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