Cabinet reshuffle throws Aussie R18+ timeline into doubt

  • By Lozzica, GameSpot AU
  • Posted Jun 15, 2009 6:26 pm AEST

For those of us who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the R18+ discussion paper, slated for release around this time of the year, it's been a long and arduous wait. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the wait will be over any time soon.Bob Debus--the former Minister for Home Affairs who...

For those of us who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the R18+ discussion paper, slated for release around this time of the year, it's been a long and arduous wait. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the wait will be over any time soon.

Bob Debus--the former Minister for Home Affairs who was to be responsible for the release of the discussion paper--was replaced last week in the Rudd Government reshuffle, throwing into doubt the original anticipated release timeline for the paper. The apparently soon-to-be-released paper was supposed to have concluded its consultation process by 31 July 2009. Debus has now been replaced by Brendan O'Connor.

Announcing O'Connor's promotion on Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described the Home Affairs portfolio as "critical", with responsibility for "…policing and law enforcement and the administration of Australian territories."

"It is a great privilege to be offered a role that has the security of our nation as its central role," O'Connor added.

Former Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus inherited the problematic R18+ discussion paper during April's SCAG (Standing Committee of Attorneys-General) meeting, where Censorship Ministers, including South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, failed to reach a unanimous decision on when to release the paper and what, if any, changes were to be made to it.

English-born O'Connor has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since November 2001, and is a member of the Independent Left faction of the Victorian branch of the Labor Party. Upon the election of the Rudd Labor Government in 2007, he was appointed Minister for Employment Participation. Prior to politics, O'Connor was the Assistance National Secretary of the Australian Services Union. He holds an Arts and Law degree from Monash University and a Diploma in Industrial Relations from Harvard University.

GameSpot AU made some enquiries following O'Connor's promotion, and has been re-assured by the Federal Attorney General's office that so far nothing has changed in regards to the R18+ discussion paper. As far as we know, O'Connor will take over from Debus where the matter of the R18+ classification for video games in Australia is concerned, and we should see the discussion paper released in the following months.

However, that doesn't mean that things will not change. We have placed a request to the new Minister for Home Affairs to look specifically at the issue of R18+ and let us know what his exact plans are regarding the discussion paper.

As soon as we hear anything back, we will let you know.

32 Comments

  • RockZillaX

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 6:14 pm PT

    Haha Maf17.. I am with you man as I now also buy from overseas when a game is edited or withheld.. thank god for play-asia.. or I'd not have Demon's souls or Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan and Game UK for GTA IV. However I have 2 kids and I dont want my son playing games like Prototype at tender age of 10 yrs old. and I know his friends have such games.. It's a worry as a parent.

  • Wolf745

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:07 am PT

    ohh ru kidding me. everyone should have a right to what we play

  • KilledbyJOman

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 7:37 pm PT

    Keep knocking on doors, gamespot. The sooner we are bestowed with the R suffix, the sooner we hardcore gamers can rape...OH CRAP I mean 'reap' the rewards. All jokes aside, we are the only ones who want as much in the game as other countries have at launch. We are the only ones who buy collectors editions, pre-order copies, and even import, to get as much content into a game that we love.

  • dr_satan666

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 3:49 pm PT

    I too have an imported copy of GTA IV.... reason being it's not that I'm purposefully rebelling against aussie censorship, but I'm a 23 yr old gamer who should have the right to see and play whatever the hell I want....

  • Spectre-123

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 5:09 am PT

    An R18+ rating would do a better job at preventing kids from seeing inappropriate material than the current maximum rating of MA15+ ... when will the government learn that games aren't just for kids ?

  • cebtfvdb

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 9:41 pm PT

    What happens when God of War 3 comes out in all its Gory Glory?
    would sony allow it to be banned?
    i dont want a heavily edited GOW3.
    i dont want Kratos tickling mythical creatures to death...

  • rockatanski

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 6:12 pm PT

    Agree with ya on that maf17. I'll be buying games from the US until this paper gets dealt with by a golden pen, or someones rectum - in which case I'll continue buying from the US.

  • maf17

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 5:40 pm PT

    Just not interested any more. I resisted for a long time, but now have finally come to the conclusion that game retailing is Australia is one big joke and started ordering games from overseas. I am now playing Cryostasis, whose Australian release date has not even be announced yet, and will soon be playing the uncensored version of Necrovision. Far as I'm concerned, they can shove their discussion paper where the sun don't shine.

  • RockZillaX

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 5:02 pm PT

    I agree with TurambarGS I really appreciate GS staying on top of this.. I just this morning had a discussion with a house mate about Prototype.. whilst I love it I dont want my children to play it.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 1:14 pm PT

    Thanks for sharing that Laura - good to know that you're on top of this.

  • TurambarGS

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 10:44 am PT

    It's really great that Gamespot stays on top of this issue - saves me trawling through other sources to find any information about it.

  • UFCBOSS

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 8:28 am PT

    I look at it like this.Lets just say GTA IV, If this was R18+ there would be way less kids playing this game, But instead our goverment who is protecting us or whatever makes GTA IV Only MA15+ and taking out two minor things that you never do anyway... I have the UK version and I only got a hooker once, And the blood, wow man, Say no more. UP YOURS CENSORSHIP

  • T_C_W

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 3:58 am PT

    this is one of the many reasons that people cant rely on their goverment.....
    i say lets revolt and take the capital by storm!!!

  • spade_of_voodoo

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 2:49 am PT

    you have my vote also ^_^

  • rockatanski

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 9:32 pm PT

    Well Dr Hugh, then you have my vote from this day on

    .. and it's about time a politician dropped into the gamespot forums. Come on Atkinson, where are you? You've got friends waiting here..

  • dr_hugh_w

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 9:15 pm PT

    To rockatanski, may I say that I am an active politician from The Greens in QLD and I am pushing to make the introduction of an R18+ classification for videogames an issue in the upcoming federal election. The Greens have a large number members who are avid gamers (like myself) and we are writing policy and pressuring cabinet to introduce this legislation as soon as possible.

    Not having an R18+ rating is an archaic and unrepresentative approach to media censorship. But there are active members of the political community who are trying to change this. I am proud to say that I play videogames and I vote.

  • dr_satan666

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 7:24 pm PT

    Hello ebay my friend.....

  • rockatanski

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 6:40 pm PT

    Politicians don't care about computer games. These delays are ridicoulos and they make no sense. One loser replaces another on the cabinet. I say we just buy the "Banned" games through other means online. Where there's a will, there's a way. Atkinson can eat turds forever if he likes, but I don't wanna know about it.

  • darkwolf1982

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 5:51 am PT

    With political correctness and nanny-minded politicians plagued with fear over another possible shooting-spree (eg: Port Arthur, Collumbine, yadda yadda yadda).

    Come next election... BELIEVE NO POLITION WHO SAYS THEY WILL INTRODUCE AN R-RATING FOR GAMES!!!

    That is nothing more than an empty election promise... So who voted Labour eh?

  • skitzo_zac

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 5:33 am PT

    I swear there is absolutely no good reason that we shouldn't have an R18+ rating.

    I am sick of being deprived of playing games as the developers intended them to be played.

  • Oblenator posted Jun 15, 2009 5:23 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Oblenator

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 5:23 am PT (hide)

    I say just leave it as it is, it'll cause much less fuss and headaches. The only drawbacks will be "hArDcOrE gAmErZ" b*tching about it on the internet.

  • zxssded

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 5:23 am PT

    its not hard to print a piece of paper, sign it or release it to the people....why is it taking so long...its not the frekin olympics....its not hard....a retarded moneky can do this

  • dr_satan666

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 5:06 am PT

    it's bullsh!t like this, that makes me glad I import my games when necessary

  • Massacher

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 4:47 am PT

    this sucks, i want to see an R18+ rating already!

  • alienmlbyrne0

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 4:09 am PT

    Just face it people, it's never going to happen they will just keep putting it off and putting it off. That's politicians for you.

  • littlebrainmagg

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:51 am PT

    God damn Atkinson. He prevents Australia from having an R18+ rating based on his own beliefs. He should just agree and stop this damn issue, then maybe he can focus on other issues...

  • curtdoggLP5

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 3:10 am PT

    People suck.

  • damaster101

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:58 am PT

    this has gotten worse then ridiculous.

  • aaronobst

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:52 am PT

    Just about sick of hearing about this, just INTRODUCE IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!

  • Powerwalk

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:30 am PT

    i dont see why we shouldent have a R 18 rating

  • barkera0

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:00 am PT

    Let's hope things can still head in a positive direction.

    And by that, I mean introduce an R18+ rating.

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