My fellow Australians, the time is almost nigh to do your civic duty and march on down to vote in the upcoming federal election. But if all this talk of me-too-ism, interest rates, economic management, worms, climate change, and whatnot is starting to send you cross-eyed, then never fear. GameSpot AU is here to cut through the noise and present you with a video game-centric view of everything you'll need to know to make an informed decision on polling day.
That's right, we've picked the three most pressing issues for gamers in Australia and asked the two major parties--the Coalition and Labor--to outline their views, plans, and promises. We'll also put in our own two cents as the GameSpot AU Party, and explain what we would do should we ever get into the Lodge. (Unfortunately, bad timing and several matters still pending in international courts have prevented us from registering as a political party for this election--but next time!) So which party will make your life better as a gamer down under? Who should get your vote? Read on to make your decision!
Australia is without a doubt a great nation, but it's not as welcoming if you're the creators of Soldier of Fortune: Payback. Or Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. Or Manhunt. That's because those three games--among many others--have been the victims of Australia's games-classification system courtesy of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC). In Australia, the highest classification currently allowed for a video game is MA15+. Classification for other forms of entertainment media, such as films and DVDs, can go up to R18+, or even to X18. What the lower ceiling of classification for video games means is this: Any game considered by the OFLC to have content that is unsuitable for someone under the age of 15 is refused classification. That means it becomes illegal to sell, import, or display said game in Australia. Soldier of Fortune: Payback was the last game to be refused classification down under. Others include Reservoir Dogs, BMX XXX, Manhunt (after being approved and on sale for six months before reclassified), Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, Postal, Postal 2, and NARC. (The Grand Theft Auto games listed were eventually made available for sale after some content changes by the developer).
To be fair, Australia's federal government is not solely responsible for games classification in this country. All of Australia's various state and territory attorneys general--as well as the federal attorney general--jointly make the decision on classification levels for different forms of media. This National Classification Code is what the OFLC then uses to make its decisions on ratings. Nevertheless, given that it governs our nation, the federal government is important in terms of its opinion about an R rating for video games. Here's the question we sent to both attorney general Philip Ruddock and shadow attorney general Senator Joe Ludwig:
Australia currently has no R18+ classification for video games. Do you support the future introduction of an R18+ rating? If not, why? If you do support an R18+ rating, will this be an issue you will be pursuing should you win government?
Their responses are below.
The Coalition: Attorney General Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock's office did not respond by GameSpot AU's deadline for this feature. But considering that Ruddock--along with the Local Government Association of Queensland--worked together to ultimately ban Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure in Australia in early 2006, we're guessing his views on introducing an R18+ rating won't be too forward-thinking.
Labor Party: Shadow Attorney General Joe Ludwig
"Australia's classification regime is, broadly, divided into two different streams: classification and enforcement. While--under the current arrangements--it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth to provide for the classification of materials, it is generally the responsibility of the state and territory governments to provide legislation for the enforcement of these classifications. The National Classification Code is set by agreement between the State, Territory, and Commonwealth governments.
"Any move to introduce additional ratings for video games would, therefore, have to be by mutual agreement.
"While I understand that many in the community desire the addition of an R18+ rating for video games, the Federal Labor Party does not believe that there are any fundamental problems with the functioning of the Classification system in Australia and, as such, we do not currently have any proposals to work with state governments to introduce such additional ratings for video games."
The GameSpot AU Party
Here at the GameSpot AU Party, we frankly feel it's ridiculous that Australia does not have an R18+ rating for video games. A game-rating system that tops out at MA15+ is endemic of old-school thinking that basically assumes that children are the only people who play games. As recent research by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia showed, the average age of the Australian gamer is 24.
If elected (and let's face it, we won't be), the GameSpot AU Party will respect the rights of adult Australians to play the content they prefer. Of course, children should not be exposed to adult material. But if you're over 18, then the game's on. Not only will we introduce an R18+ rating in Australia, but the GameSpot AU Party will also work with Rockstar to retroactively insert the Hot Coffee mod in all versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In fact, we will insist that Rockstar insert Hot Coffee in all their products, including Table Tennis. We will also ensure that Leisure Suit Larry gets the Order of Australia.
Next: Government Support for Australian Developers »
What are your thoughts on how the elections could help or hurt games in Australia? Leave us a comment and let us know!
I Game and I Vote: GameSpot AU's Guide to the Australian Federal Election
In the lead-up to Australia's upcoming federal election, GameSpot AU identifies the burning issues for gamers and finds out what both of the major political parties are promising to do about them.
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