Minister releases proposed guidelines for introduction of R18+

THE HON BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP

MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND JUSTICE

MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 4 November 2011

R18+ ONE STEP CLOSER WITH RELEASE OF GUIDELINES

Minister for Justice Brendan O’Connor today released the proposed Guidelines for the introduction of Australia’s new adult category for computer games.

The Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games amend the draft guidelines, which were released for consultation in May this year, to address important community concerns.

In July, Law Ministers from all jurisdictions except NSW gave in-principle support to the amended Guidelines and agreed to take them to their Cabinets for approval. In August, NSW agreed in-principle to the introduction of an R18+ classification.

“For the first time in the history of computer game classification in Australia, there is unanimous, in-principle support for the  introduction of an R18+ category for computer games from all Law Ministers,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Introducing the new classification will give parents better advice about what games are suitable for their children, while allowing adults to view material designed for adults.”

The amendments reflect concerns expressed by the public, stakeholders and governments about the draft Guidelines.  Bans  on violence, sexual violence and drug use have been strengthened at all levels.

“Games with high impact violence that is, in context, frequently gratuitous, exploitative and offensive to a reasonable adult will not be permitted in the R 18+ category,” Mr O’Connor said.

“And I want to make it clear that sexually explicit games, or games with very frequent and unduly repetitive strong and realistic violence, will not be classified under the MA15+ category.”

A national telephone survey of more than 2,200 people conducted by Galaxy last year found that 80 per cent of Australians supported the introduction of an R18+ category for computer games.

Australiais the only industrialised nation without an adults-only classification for video and computer games.

The proposed Guidelines are available at www.classification.gov.au.

Media Contact:
Maria Hawthorne 0407 015 986 maria.hawthorne@ag.gov.au

To see iGEA’s response, click here