Atkinson goes against 90 percent of public opinion on R18+ classification

Mike Bantick
Saturday, 01 November 2008 11:47

Opinion and Analysis

With an easier to understand classification system, parental locks on current generation game consoles and no more clamouring from industry groups such as the IEAA Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia) about censorship, it looked like the way forward.

But as mentioned in the Hansard report, and with comments made by Atkinson to Gamespot AU this week, it looks as if the public consultation process has been delayed.

According to Gamespot AU , A spokesperson for the minister said that Atkinson "gave consideration to the draft but was unable to support the release of that document," but he did not specify reasons why. Atkinson has been a long-standing opponent of the introduction of an R18+ rating for games in Australia.
 
"The next meeting of the ministers will occur in November so the matter can be further discussed then if ministers choose," Atkinson's spokesperson said.

Support seems to be slipping in face of Atkinson's hard-line attitude to the R18+ classification.  Victorian Attorney-General, a supporter of the proposal, also told Gamespot AU; "Whilst the issue is still formally on the SCAG agenda, it now appears unlikely that there will be unanimity from all jurisdictions to proceed further at this stage with introducing an R18+ category for computer games."

The next SCAG meeting is later this month

Atkinson sticking to his water pistols on this matter is admirable.  I am in favour of our elected officials having the guts to make the tough decisions, sometimes in the face of unpopularity.

But in this case, I can not see, and have not heard a sensible, rational argument for the stance.  This actually looks like a politically motivated soap-box-on-a-high-horse approach to simply appease the conservative and perhaps ill-informed views of Atkinson's support base.