No plans for R18+ rating for games in Australia: Labor

Labor says there are "no fundamental problems" with games classification in Australia.

Games classification--particularly the lack of an R18+ rating--has long been a hot topic for gamers in Australia. With a federal election just around the corner, some gamers had hopes that a possible change in government could also result in a change in ratings, but that now seems unlikely with the federal Labor Party stating it has no desire to introduce an R18+ rating should it come into power on November 24.

Labor Party shadow attorney general Joe Ludwig has told GameSpot AU that the Labor Party does not think there are any "fundamental problems" with Australia's current games classification regime. 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 Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification then uses to make its decisions on ratings.

"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," Ludwig said.

Attorney general Philip Ruddock did not return GameSpot AU's request for comment before deadline.

For more on the key issues facing Australian gamers in the upcoming federal election, check out GameSpot AU's I Game and I Vote feature.

61 Comments

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Nov 14, 2007 12:27 am PT

    Gosh. People sure are desperate for an R18+ rating for video games.

    My problem is with all the sissies who are too afraid to import the games they want. Instead they just seem to "cry" about. I say suck it up and learn to import (it's not like you're a kid).

  • Devvy01

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 11:20 pm PT

    The Australian govenment are so out of touch its not funny, whether it be liberal or labor, the govt dept that rates movies & games are old idiots. Let the gaming/video shops decides who they sell them to, If not they'll probably just download them from somewhere.

  • brucies_bubbles

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 8:27 pm PT

    Lucky I'm in NZ.
    No such problem.
    Also they won't sell 18 game to people without an id here.
    Saying that though, when GTA SA came out, I know that a 12 year old in front of me was getting his Grandfather to buy it.
    Aussie needs a 18 rating but it would have to be enforced.
    The only games that get banned here are Manhunt, Postal 2 and some others. We got NARC, BMX XXX, GTA 3 (Original), NFL Blitz

  • brucies_bubbles

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Lucky i'm in NZ.
    No such problem.
    Also they won't sell 18 game to people without an id here.
    Saying that though, when GTA SA came out, I know that a 12 year old in front of me was getting his Grandfather to buy it.
    Aussie needs a 18 rating but it would have to be inforced.
    The only games that get banned here are Manhunt, Postal 2 and some others. We got NARC, BMX XXX, GTA 3 (Orginal), NFL Blitz

  • j2thel023

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 8:09 pm PT

    While I agree that Australia needs the new R18+ rating for the sake of the freedom of speech, but "the majority of people" dont care about this issue. I would say most of them are against the new r18 rating actually.

    The percentage of regular gamers in the adult population doesnt seem to be big enough to influence the government as such, not that I have any proof in terms of numbers.

    The government is about providing what people want, but it is also responsible for protecting the youth from unacceptable exposure.

    Right now, we have ratings like G, PG, M, MA.
    But in reality, how many shops actually get picky over a child wanting to buy a GTA game? They would rather sell as many copies as they can.
    So what would happen if we suddenly introduce a more violent, more sexual, more anti-social content and slap a 18+ sticker on it? Are they all gonna suddenly follow the rules?

    This is the Australia video game culture and it is how it is as of now. We can blame the government or the irresponsible parents or w/e. But unless the majority of the population realises that 'video game' is no longer just for kiddies, but rather it could be a new form of expression and an art, we cant take any further step.

    Just simply introducing this new rating that everyone wants will create even more problems than without it. Every parent and activist will rise up to have their say. So everyone's perspective must be changed before anything else.

  • uklegendkiller

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 6:23 pm PT

    I'm surprised they haven't banned mario yet!! lol...Governments don't have a clue about games, but they always seem to think they do when they talk about them. It's about time they laid off games and focused on more pressing issues that really matter.

  • aarow82

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    So while he admits "many in the community desire the addition of an R18+ rating for video games" he doesn't do it. Governments are supposed to be about providing what the majority of people want. Plus the guy wouldn't know anything about games I bet, so he should listen to us seeing as though we do.

  • dodge_the_gun

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:04 pm PT

    Censorship is wrong. 50 years ago 'noddy' was banned in Australia cause he refered to 'having a gay (happy) time'. Governments have no right to tell people what they can and cannot do/watch/play. Screw em'

  • Unleaded_Fuel

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:14 pm PT

    Grimold, what was removed from the Aus version of GTA III? The humping in the car minigame and headshot gibs? I'm pretty sure that's it and that stuff didn't make the game any better anyway.

  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:26 pm PT

    unlucky for the aussies.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 11:20 am PT

    No fundamental problems except that they keep banning media? I hate Socialists more than just about any thing else I can think of.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 10:44 am PT

    dang, that sucks

  • InfectX

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 10:27 am PT

    Um, why would the socialists want to REDUCE government control? lol

  • andrew_dueck

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 7:44 am PT

    All the old farts in parliament don't like, or care about video games, so why would they think it affects anyone else? Isn't that how politicians are supposed to be?

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 6:39 am PT

    bring back soldier of fortune, then we can talk

  • vass86

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 5:51 am PT

    i'll tell him what the "fundamental problem" is. adults want to play adult games and no government should stand in the way of that

  • drukqsr

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 4:57 am PT

    Which games has been banned in Australia? Any really awesome, ground breaking ones?

    Aren't our MA15+ ratings the same as the US' R18+? I've always just assumed that we've been getting the same game, it's just our classification codes are slightly more lenient.

    If it is true that some games aren't coming in or are being censored because of their R rating, then that is something that we should address. We should have the right to choose what we want to see and play. If you don't want a violent game, don't buy a violent game. It's rather simple.

    I disagree with "alcoholhamster" on your point of an R18+ rated video game would undermine the R18+ rating on a film. The difference in content between an M and an MA15+ isn't all that large. The difference in content between an M and an R18+ is huge. Even the difference between MA and R18+ is fairly sizeable.

    However, I do agree on what you said about those saying they'll vote for another party because of this issue. Let's just hope they think long and hard about which party they'll vote for.

  • Irve

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 4:30 am PT

    It' a shame really Oz does need a higher classification than MA15+

  • Grimold

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 4:20 am PT

    GTA III was banned and now you all enjoy a watered down version of the game compared to the rest of the world, since your argument seems to be "18+ games suck anyway" I figure a popular game like GTA III being incomplete must sting a little. More to the point however is not the quality of these games based on reviews etc, many games receive mixed ratings but gamers tend to get to make their own mind up about how good games are. And therein lies the point, you aren't even being given the freedom to choose!

  • alcoholhamster

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 4:17 am PT

    plus, you know, none of the games that have been banned i have actually wanted. they have all been cash ins on extreme violence/behaviour rather than solid gaming experiences.

  • Unleaded_Fuel

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 4:11 am PT

    Name one truely excellent game that has gotten a R18+ rating (AKA banned) in Australia and I'll eat my hat*. *I don't actually have a hat, so I lied.

  • Grimold

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:59 am PT

    Australia is yet again denied freedom to explore new intriguing cultural mediums. Granted mature content isn't something everyone WANTS to see, but there are a few Australians I'd wager would like the choice!

    Censorship of the industry we all love is something we need to address more so now than ever before, or we can never expect to grow. The games industry already makes more money than the film and music industries, yet we receive half the respect.

  • alcoholhamster

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:49 am PT

    I don't see why we need an R18+ rating.
    We've gotten by for years and years without needing to see violence or sex that would fall under that rating in games. Why do we need it now?

    And it's a fact that the R18+ rating works for films. Parents might have no hesitation to let their 13 year old kid play a MA15+ game, or see a MA movie, (MA15+ also being a legally restricted rating), but won't let them see R18+.
    It would undermine the film rating, and it would mean that 10 year olds would play games that are unsuitable. (ok, i know they do already....).

    and @ all you people saying "the other party has my vote now", 1) do you even know what the other party is? and 2) are there no other issues that you think are important/compelling?
    that's the problem with this country. people are shortsighted, and selfish. i seriously hope you guys are joking by posting that stuff.

  • selbie

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:39 am PT

    Damn it! I got my hopes up too high. I should have known there were still baby boomers in government that don't give a **** about games. I think it's time that BOTH the film industry and games industry lobbied the government to recognise these industries more.
    However I do support Labor's efforts to provide more funding for developers, which in my opinion, is MUCH more important than a rating.

  • wjkflke

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:27 am PT

    Ha ha. i love the ratings in asutralia. Cause waht evers m goes to Ma in america. And whatever is R18+ is Ma in australia.

  • wjkflke

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:53 am PT

    Ha ha. i love the ratings in asutralia. Cause waht evers m goes to Ma in america. And whatever is R18+ is Ma in australia.

  • wjkflke

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:53 am PT

    Ha ha. i love the ratings in asutralia. Cause waht evers m goes to Ma in america. And whatever is R18+ is Ma in australia.

  • Marka1700

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:02 am PT

    Soy they andkowledge that people want it, but tell us we cant have it. I though democrocay was supposed to give the poeple power. Seems more like sit down and shut up while you do what you are told. Eg. IR Laws , no one wants them, yet we got them.

  • raghraghragh

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:01 am PT

    @Office_Ninja

    Exactly!
    Why the HELL is the R18+ rating in black?!
    Shouldn't it be in red or yellow or orange?!
    If you're not going to make the higher level ratings stand-out, just keep the bloody old ones!

    This is stupid. But face it people, we aren't going to get a R18+ rating for games until the teenagers or 20-somethings of today become elected.

  • raghraghragh

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 2:00 am PT

    @Office_Ninja

    Exactly!
    Why the HELL is the R18+ rating in black?!
    Shouldn't it be in red or yellow or orange?!
    If you're not going to make the higher level ratings stand-out, just keep the bloody old ones!

    This is stupid. But face it people, we aren't going to get a R18+ rating for games until the teenagers or 20-somethings of today become elected.

  • fkholmes

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 1:41 am PT

    Lame.

  • Office_Ninja

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 1:01 am PT

    Ugh, the Aussie rating system went down the drain when they started having coloured rating stickers - they just stain the case artwork and don't really help the illiterate if that was thier intention (the PG rating is yellow, but an M rating is blue? should be the other way around!)

  • lancebalog

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:51 am PT

    prolly shouldnt be saying this, but since i was a kid when australia couldnt get games for the sole reason that theres no r18 rating id just *secret* and play it on my xbox/ps2.

    other people would import it and put money in othre countries economies.
    id first i gave a peice of snickers but i relised how many times i got the game anyway through *secret* activity. so its no problem for me, but a problem for australia.

  • Deano

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:42 am PT

    this isn't an issue that is going to bring in votes so that's why they feel no need to change the law. It's not like we video gamers are going to protest in street marches to get a 18+ rating for games. If you really want an uneditied game that bad just order it from overseas, i've done it in the past and wil do in the future. Customs are too busy looking for drugs to bother with a game, if they even have a clue that something as inconspicuous as a game is even illegal.

  • Eaz-TK

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:13 am PT

    the other party has my vote now

  • Eaz-TK

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:13 am PT

    the other party has my vote now

  • flammable_zeus

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:12 am PT

    "...the Federal Labor Party does not believe that there are any fundamental problems with the functioning of the Classification system in Australia..." I do see a fundamental problem, we aren't getting all the games that we should be able to play, simply because we don't have a rating high enough for them.

  • trinest22

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 12:07 am PT

    Dam it, time to pick someone else to vote for.

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