R18+ bill to go before Aussie parliament this February - Minister
Office of Federal Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare has confirmed that the R18+ for games bill will be introduced in the first session of parliament this year, commencing February 7.
In July last year, Australian gamers rejoiced at the news that federal, state, and territory censorship ministers reached an in-principle agreement to introduce an R18+ classification for video games in Australia. At the time, former Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor revealed that the introduction of the R18+ bill would happen in the February 2012 session of parliament.
However, O'Connor was reassigned to a new portfolio during the federal government's ministerial reshuffle late last year, with former Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare named the new Federal Minister for Home Affairs in his place. Despite inheriting O'Connor's portfolio, including the issue of R18+, Clare has so far been silent on his intentions for the adult classification for games.
Now, speaking to GameSpot AU, Clare's office has revealed that the minister will stick to the previously announced timeline for R18+ and will introduce the R18+ for games bill in the first session of this year's parliamentary sittings, due to commence on February 7.
"Our plans are to introduce the R18+ bill in the first session of parliament this year," a spokesperson for Clare's office told GameSpot AU. "If it passes the Lower House, it will then go to the Senate for the same process."
In order for the R18+ bill to be passed through the Lower House (House of Representatives), Clare's office says it requires the support of at least two crossbench MPs. The crossbench MPs are Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor, Andrew Wilkie, Bob Katter, and Greens MP Adam Bandt, who have remained silent on their stance over R18+ to date.
To pass through the Senate, the bill will require the support of either the coalition or the Greens, both of which are sympathetic to the R18+ issue; in November 2010, Federal Opposition Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis voiced his sympathy towards the R18+ cause, while the Greens have showed their support in the past.
GameSpot AU will continue to update this story.
Content you might like…
-
R18+ headed for Australian parliament

The R18+ legislation has been cleared by the Labor Party and will be introduced in parliament.
- Feb 13, 2012
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Biden: No legal problem with taxing violent games
United States Vice President Joe Biden believes there is no legal restriction on ability to tax violent media. Full Story
- Posted May 14, 2013 5:50 am AEST
-
Just Cause dev promises 'holy f**king sh**' moments in future games
Avalanche Studios co-founder says developer's ambition is for action, not moments that make players cry; steampunk-style game on hold. Full Story
- Posted May 15, 2013 11:33 pm AEST
Featured Stories
-
Bungie shoots down Destiny for PS Vita rumor
Developer confirms image suggesting version of upcoming shared-world shooter in development for Sony's latest portable is a fake. Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 10:08 pm AEST
-
Ubisoft planning to release games more frequently
Assassin's Creed and Far Cry publisher says its network of 26 studios and over 7,000 developers will allow company to ship major franchises more regularly. Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 9:42 pm AEST
-
Metro: Last Light dev responds to workplace conditions claims
4A Games creative director Andrew Prokhorov thanks Jason Rubin for telling the studio's story, but says, "We deserve the ratings we get." Full Story
- Posted May 17, 2013 5:44 am AEST
-
EA opens DICE LA to make Star Wars games
DICE head would also like to poach top talent from rivals Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Full Story
- Posted May 15, 2013 8:28 pm AEST
-
EA dropping Online Passes - Report
Future EA games won't require Online Passes; the service is being scrapped after tepid player response. Full Story
- Posted May 16, 2013 1:28 pm AEST






