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Hulls: time to introduce R 18+ games rating
Stan Beer
Thursday, 03 November 2005 10:00
Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls will call on states, territories and the Commonwealth to re-consider introducing an R 18+ rating for computer and video games at the coming Friday's meeting of Australian censorship ministers.
Mr Hulls said there should be a consistent, national rating system across films, literature and computer and video games in Australia.
'It is anomalous that adults can purchase and view R-rated films and literature but are unable to play computer games with a rating higher that MA15+,' Mr Hulls said.
'Australia's exclusion of R 18+ computer games is inconsistent with international standards, and the expansion of the Internet means that many adult games are readily available online.'
Mr Hulls said the number of adult users of computer and video games is growing.
'Computer games are not just for children. People who started playing video games in the 1990s are continuing to play them well into adulthood,' he said.
Research released today by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia found the average age of people who play computer and video games is 24 years.
Mr Hulls said that although the market for computer and video games is dominated by demand from an older age group, regulation of R 18+ games would provide more clarity for parents of younger 'gamers'.
'Children are no more likely to access an R 18+ computer game than they would an R 18+ DVD or videotape,' Mr Hulls said.
'The development of parental locks on game consoles can also make it increasingly difficult for children to access inappropriate computer games.'
Mr Hulls said ignoring the existence of adult computer games could create a black market in illegal and pirated computer games.
'Australia, particularly Victoria has a thriving computer and video game industry and it is better to have these computer games classified and regulated.
'For classification laws to be changed, there must be agreement among all states, territories and the Commonwealth to lift the ban on R 18+ computer and video games and I hope this will be given due consideration at Friday's meeting.'
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