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Group collects over 16,000 pro-R18+ responses

By Laura Parker

Grow Up Australia and EB Games collaboration nets large response to Aussie R18+ public consultation.

Independent advocacy group Grow Up Australia's partnership with game retailer EB Games to urge people to make a submission into the Australian government's public consultation for an R18+ classification for video games has been met with strong support--16,055 strong, to be precise.

As a result of the ongoing partnership--which included posters on R18+ displayed in all EB stores across Australia and an online submission form via the EB Web site--Grow Up Australia has to date received 16,055 pro-R18+ submissions that will now be sent to the Federal Attorney-General's department as part of the R18+ public consultation.

This number almost triples the last recorded number of submissions made in the government's R18+ public consultation. Earlier this month, Helen Daniels, assistant secretary of the Copyright and Classification Policy Branch, told a Senates Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee in Canberra that as of February 1, 2010, the government had received 6,239 submissions into the R18+ public consultation.

Of that figure, the Classification Policy Branch had only processed 1,084 so far and found the majority to be pro-R18+, with only 11 against R18+.

Founder of Grow Up Australia Aaron John Percival said support for the introduction of the R18+ rating has been overwhelming. "99 percent of the submissions made through our Web site have been in favour of the change," he said.

With less than a week to go until the deadline for submissions, Grow Up Australia says there is still an opportunity for people to have their say. To make a submission to the R18+ public consultation, visit the Federal Attorney-General's Department Web site before February 28.

For more on classification, check out GameSpot AU's Aussie Games Classification FAQ feature.

27 comments
tigertechie
tigertechie

Thanks so much for that, i needed that!

drivemuse
drivemuse

I submitted my ONE. @tigertechie: What are you doing man? Don't post things like that in the forum, any opposing R18+ will use stuff like that to say the results were inaccurate. Use your brain man, duh.

Hoob22
Hoob22

Online surveys aren't exactly ideal. For starters, only people that agree would be compelled to vote on the site. Secondly, knowing the denizens of the internet, some people would be compelled to respond many, many ,many times using different handles. I hope this helps regardless

tigertechie
tigertechie

I'm an aussie, and i responsed three times, once on email, and twice in the store, using different names each time!

999realthings
999realthings

Man, with this kinda response I'm pretty sure R+18 gaming will be passed for sure

hughesie55
hughesie55

It doesnt really matter what anyone else thinks except that moron Atkinson! i mean it only takes 1 attorney general to say no and it gets passed in - Where is the democracy in that!!!!! GROW UP AUSTRALIA!

H0rr0rG4m3r
H0rr0rG4m3r

R+18 rating for Video Games FTW!!! lol

johnnyauau
johnnyauau

With such a massive response for R18+ games in Australia, I don't think Michael Atkinson have anything left to survive on. People reading this comment, do your submission in a polite manner, no death threats to Michael, get ready to vote for Kat Nicholson and do a submission for Electronic Boutique. Michael Atkinson is hardly a role model for kids. For a start, I don't see his kids playing adult games and his parent skills need some work. So much for his one note performance, the idea that MA15+ or a teenage rating is quite ridiculous, forcing adult games to tone down or get banned, just to say "this is not permissable". I do hope Michael will lose his job. He has no evidence that adult games makes gamers magically aggresssive and anyone knows what R18+ does and it's not made for kids.

ToRNiO
ToRNiO

Give the people what they want!!! Well done everyone!

wenisman
wenisman

i would like to thank everyone who submitted, hopefully your voices will be heard and make a difference. Maybe even bring a ray of democracy back into australia... however the unfortunate truth of the matter is that the law still states that it has to be a unaminous vote from all Attorney Generals, so whilst Atkinson is in power this will never get through. @R_evolution_Jay : totally agree, he has no evidence on anything... in fact he has been called into question for making ridiculous claims and breaching the parliamentry code of conduct. Removing him from office will be saving australia from the whims of a crazy old man. my hope is that there will be a solid democratic outcome form this... to all pollies listening remember the basis of democracy? majority rules and all are equal with equal choice and voice.

AceBalls
AceBalls

True Jay, the reason why the other politicians aren't coming out to support anti R18+ is because they probably don't care about it. It doesn't win them votes. That's why Atkinson is making such a massive deal out of this entire debate in the first place. What a shame it's backfired onto him like a nuclear bomb retaliation. Well, it's not a shame really. This corrupt man deserved it so badly.

R_evolution_Jay
R_evolution_Jay

Funny thing about Atkinson I've been starting to realize, he is the ONLY one speaking out about this subject, where are these other phantom opposers to the R18+ issue? Where are the other politicians backing atkinson up? Where is the experts confirming his ridiculous claims about a subject he knows little about? Where is the SA police confirming he even got a threatening letter? So much talk, so LITTLE to back it up, if he wants to be taken seriously and his statements taken as valid he needs more that year old whines about bits of paper pushed under a door...

RonIsIZe_13
RonIsIZe_13

Well this isn't surprising but it doesnt mean much in terms of a political argument. Unfortunatley, the fact that so many submissions came from the EB link can be used by people such as Atkinson to correctly state that gamers are overrepresented in submissions and the general public (who he will argue are AGAINST an R18+ rating) havent been accurately represented. As soon as Today Tonight, ACA or any mainstream media outlet start showing/talking about violent games these 99% pro R18+ results will mean nothing

Falcon084
Falcon084

I have been posting the link on FaceBook, a magazine and my blog. Even if your the type of person who buys games overseas I want freedom in my nation!

mystic_knight
mystic_knight moderator moderator

All i can say is good luck guys, I hope we will be able to play some games that the rest of the world has the opportunity to play.

TurambarGS
TurambarGS

Emailed my submission yesterday. Tried to clear up some ignorance on some topics. E.g. that you get 'points' for killing civilians in MW2 and that an R18+ rating will allow for 'rape' or 'torture' games. I know that despite these submissions Atkinson is going to dig his heels in and refuse to sanction changes, but here's hoping that the Vic/ACT AG's manage to convince the others - so it's JUST Atkinson left by himself.

Maleficia888
Maleficia888

I'm with you guys, He will ignore it and just say it's rigged because EB is a game company so they "somehow'" pressured people into going pro for the R18+ rating, his done it before >=(

darthturkey
darthturkey

Good to see that over 16,000 reponses are yes to R 18+ to video games, but you what micheal atkison reponse will be

Revla
Revla

He may well ignore it, but here's a thing. He tried to remove anonymity regarding political discussion on blogs on the internet. He tried to make it law saying if you posted a political comment or opinion you had to post your real name and postcode. In one day of this law being made public the backlash was sooooo strong that it bacame political poison to continue having it and he was forced to repeal it. From what I can tell by what I read above his stance on this issue is becoming political poison also. I doubt he'll do a 'humiliting' backflip on this like he did on the other law due to him already stating that he won't change his mind, but he must be feeling the pressure by now. If he does change his stance than atleast he finally listens to reason, but he'll look weaker than ever (like he does anyway), I don't want to sound like a downer, I want this, just stating an opinion (see Mr. Atkinson its an opinion.... sue me)

dallasanderson1
dallasanderson1

he is arrogant and will ignore it for sure. good on the guys at EB and good on all you gamers for getting out there and letting the public know whats happening

SexySylph
SexySylph

He most likely will ignore it, but it's worth a shot.

selbie
selbie

That's one for the good guys! As much as I dislike EB for their prices, I'm glad they made a valiant effort in promoting this issue to the wider public. I hope my submission will at least count for something :s

SwiftusMaximus
SwiftusMaximus

The EB poll was up to 35 thousand+ last i looked , its a shame more people didn't fill out a simple form to reflect these numbers. Sadly i don't think we'll see change soon as mentioned in other posts and threatening letters haven't helped our cause, you may have been outraged, we all are, but threats accomplish nothing. Here's to hoping we shake the pillars of the bureaucrats.

mike_on_mic
mike_on_mic

Of course he will ignore this. His claims thus far is people who are against it won't speak up. The main problem is, we need unanimous support from the State Attourney's General. Including Atkinson. He has tried to censor things in SA by stealth and will certainly not be supporting this if this ammendment to the act goes ahead. As much as I want this, while he is in office and holding the post of Attourney General for SA this will be going no where. It is up to the people of SA to make sure they do their thing as it is out of our hands.

R_evolution_Jay
R_evolution_Jay

The people have spoken, and we shall be heard!... but most likely ignored, by our so called government representatives But, the more the people show their support the more pressure will be put on the government or they will look like ignorant biased liars who asked us our opinion for nothing... I mean this is what Mick should say at the very least as our so called representative: "Thank you for sending us your mature valid responses, I will take a good unbiased look at the responses, and consider the changing of our rating system if needed, based on this discussion papers feedback." At the very LEAST... I wonder.

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