Petition for '18' game rating in Australia gets 16,055 signatures

Grow Up Australia is a campaign group in support of an '18' rating for video games in the country, which is the only developer first-world country to not have such a rating. The group's campaign has gathered 16,055 signatures which will be delivered to the Attorney General's Department.

EB Games strongly supports the campaign, and displayed posters in all of its 250+ Australian stores encouraging supporters to sign the online petition.

The Attorney General's Department had asked for public opinions, for or against the issue, back in December 2009, and until February 28, members of the public have their chance to give an opinion on it.

"Support for the introduction of the R18+ rating has been overwhelming with ninety-nine percent of the submissions made through the website in favour of the change," said Aaron John Percival, one of the founders of Grow up Australia.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 23 Feb 2010 14:34

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10 comments

hikaricor

The 2009 population of Australia per wikipedia is 21,828,704 if I'm reading right.
Sadly 16k is a tiny drop in the pond in comparison. :/

23.2.2010 15:39 #1

bam431

Quote:which is the only developer first-world country to not have such a rating. I'm kinda confused is this a equivalent of a "A" or "M" rating.

23.2.2010 17:54 #2

BTFan

Quote:Quote:which is the only developer first-world country to not have such a rating. I'm kinda confused is this a equivalent of a "A" or "M" rating.Technically, it is the equivalent to AO, because they're both 18+ but if this rating is accepted, it will be on the same games that currently have the M rating (17+).

23.2.2010 18:21 #3

bam431

Quote:Quote:Quote:which is the only developer first-world country to not have such a rating. I'm kinda confused is this a equivalent of a "A" or "M" rating.Technically, it is the equivalent to AO, because they're both 18+ but if this rating is accepted, it will be on the same games that currently have the M rating (17+).
Well, thanks for clearing that up.

23.2.2010 22:01 #4

KSib

Nothing fun about being a gamer in Australia...

23.2.2010 23:14 #5

avoidz

With the focus on "violence in schools and children in general" at the moment, an R-rating for games seems very unlikely.

And 16,055 signatures is not a lot.

25.2.2010 07:01 #6

ogden2

I really don't see this as a big problem, i import all my pc and ps3 games from the uk. I get them about 15$ cheaper from the uk,

25.2.2010 08:26 #7

clotus

So after this passes (and I say 'after' in an optimistic thought), will Australia stop banning so many games? I mean, if they regulate such '18' titles the way we do in America, the restrictions on these banned games should be lifted..

25.2.2010 14:26 #8

ogden2

We in a australia get ripped off when buying PS3 games, get them from the uk or asia. I love playing my Banned R rated games in australia.

Here are 2 really good places to buy your ps3 games from.
DVD.co.uk
http://www.dvd.co.uk/
HMV.com
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/home.do

25.2.2010 22:26 #9

bluedogs

The problem we have here in Australia is this, our government have become obsessive with political correctness to the point that minorities have a bigger push than majorities.

Going on previous happenings it should be successful except the minorities (family groups etc) have the ear of our PM and they will block it easily.

As for Australia being pretty damn close to being the only country in the developed world not to have this rating shows that our pollies are completely out of touch. Now add idiot Conroy and his web filtering and what do you have.... thats right a military state or a communisic state if you wish.

I have been saying this for sometime now and that is Australians need to fight back, storm parliment house and kick em out.

26.2.2010 04:41 #10

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