Australians want R18+ classification
- — 08 December, 2010 17:01
An overwhelming majority of Australians want governments to change classification laws to allow for the sale of R18+ video and computer games.
Attorneys-general will meet on Friday to discuss introducing an adults only rating.
Currently, the most restrictive classification for video and computer games is MA15+, banning many titles from sale in Australia.
The federal government supports an R18+ classification, but needs consensus from states and territories to amend the laws.
It has released a public consultation report ahead of the meeting, backing the case for change.
Of the 58,000 submissions received, more than 98 per cent support a new classification.
The majority of respondents were male, aged between 18 and 24, and played video games for more than two hours a day.
And over half of the submissions were made electronically in a template-form distributed to customers by games retailer EB Games.
Some submissions in support of the change argued that the current classification system encourages games to be under-classified, which puts minors at risk.
Online civil liberties group Electronic Frontiers Australia submitted a list of 24 titles that have been given MA 15+ in Australia, but which other countries had labelled R18+.
But church and children's groups argued that Australia shouldn't change the laws simply to reflect those in countries including Europe and the United States.
They argued that protecting children against harmful material should be a higher priority than free access to media.
Justice Minister Brendan O'Connor said stronger classifications would help to protect children from accessing harmful material.
"If the new category is introduced it could result in computer games being reclassified R18+, providing a new level of protection for children," he said in a statement.
Streamlining classifications with films will also help parents make better informed decisions for their children, O'Connor said.
"We want to provide better advice to parents to help remove material from children and teenagers that may contain gratuitous sex, violence or drug use."
The government's report reflects a recent nationwide Galaxy survey of more than 2000 people, which showed 80 per cent were in support of an R18+ classification for games.
