Almost all state Attorney Generals now agree “in principal” to support adult ratings for games.
The only one to disagree was NSW AG, Greg Smith, who abstained from the vote, in a meeting held yesterday in Adelaide, reports The Australian.
The adult rating for computer video games in Australia was first proposed by the Gillard government.
An R18+ classification can only be introduced with the agreement of all Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers.
“This is a big step forward in the long-running debate on classification of computer games for adults,” said Federal Justice Minister Brendan O’Connor.
“The introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games will provide better advice to parents and help prevent children and teenagers from accessing unsuitable material.”
The news comes as Australia’s Christian Lobby has overturned its previous opposition to the proposal, saying the new ratings guidelines would help keep extreme games out of the country.
“Although ACL awaits the final detail from the meeting, it appears that the existing ceiling for games has been maintained with a commitment to move the more extreme MA15+ games into a newly-created R18+ rating,” a spokesperson for the ACL said.
Australia does not have an +18 adult-only rating for video games, unlike most other comparable nations.
That means some sexually explicit and violent games are available under an MA15+ rating, while others are refused classification and cannot be sold.
The lack of adult-only classification here was highlighted here last month, when a Nintendo new release, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, was given a PG rating, despite the fact it contained sexualised and possibly mild pornographic content unsuitable for children.
The game was taken off shelves in a number of countries, including Sweden and Denmark, due to its salacious graphics.
