After a pretty tense day of following varying Tweets from people on-site at the SCAG meeting to discuss the introduction of an R18+ rating for videogames, the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor emerged to an eager room of journalists to declare that the Attorneys-General had made no decision on the issue, and that it would be broached once more at the next SCAG in early 2011.
Despite there being no firm decision made today, O'Connor stressed that this was still a "step in the right direction" and that more deliberation needed to be made, along with an overhaul of Australia's ratings system. It was also confirmed there was a vote and that not all Attorneys-Generals agreed, obviously halting movement.
Despite the decision not going forward, at the very least it wasn't shot down, either.
Stay tuned for more once all the details from today's meeting have been revealed in full.
Posted 04:35pm 10/12/10
Posted 04:38pm 10/12/10
Posted 04:41pm 10/12/10
Posted 04:42pm 10/12/10
Sounds like there was a decision and the decision was no, its just that this time there isnt one AG out there saying he wont ever support it.
Posted 05:01pm 10/12/10
they Need a simpsons style vote yes on proposition 34
Go into booths if u want to vote, tally votes up at the end of day and thats the decision.
F*** these wankers in their closed rooms that are probably well into their 60's and have no idea of whats going on
Posted 05:12pm 10/12/10
Yes - the decision for R18+ games should be in the hands of the people I think, kind of. I mean most people don't know much about games, especially the older generation and thus make crappy presumptions about them.
Oh well, so we wait. And as spook said, at least it was an arbitrary 'no' decision.
Posted 05:13pm 10/12/10
Afraid of the people.
Posted 05:14pm 10/12/10
Honestly, how long have they had to make their minds up about this? How long has it been since the first meeting that one of them didn't show up for? The best they can give us is "Urh, we're not too sure right about now", it's utterly pathetic.
Posted 05:17pm 10/12/10
Over a f***** year to make a yes or no decision is just f***** ridiculous, especially when we are the people paying their salaries.
Posted 05:51pm 10/12/10
you understand AGs do a lot more than r18 right?
Posted 05:55pm 10/12/10
Ideally, you could implement a system where multiple news posts could 'subscribe' to the same set of replies rather than locking s*** like mad.
Quoting Pinky from the original thread:
Completely unnecessary. The Board's job is to determine what material fits in what strata, it doesn't need to be defined in its own Code. Creating an entirely new Code for video games is an epic waste of money.
Remove (or amend) the MA15+ video games clause and let the Board do their job IMO.
And this issue is a completely stupid diversion from their actual job.
Posted 06:02pm 10/12/10
Posted 06:12pm 10/12/10
I know. I can just see them coming out with something like, "We've decided that interactive media needs to be classified separately." and making a whole new category system just for interactive media.
It's not unfathomable!
Posted 06:31pm 10/12/10
Posted 06:54pm 10/12/10
To be honest I'll be suprised if we even get it.
Posted 07:02pm 10/12/10
Posted 07:21pm 10/12/10
I wonder if they're able to make a decision on the rest of the other crap that they do.
Posted 07:32pm 10/12/10
F*** me dead. Such a f*****g stupid waste of time. People like them need to be stripped naked in a field and shot in the head.
Posted 08:13pm 10/12/10
Only issue in this process is that it needs to be unanimous.
Posted 10:06pm 10/12/10
Its a non issue that has been allowed to turn into a national policy item because of shrilling of moral fundamentalists. It makes me wonder what our Governments are drawing attention away from that they've allowed this to continue.
"Children might get hold of the games" does not apply to anything else that adults are allowed to enjoy to the exclusion of children, even if children are observed to from time to time gain access to the prohibited material. The issue can be resolved with a tiny amendment to the Code.
The system of review of the Code that requires the unanimous assent of the AGs needs ot be fixed, it is clearly not representational and in effect dysfunctional. A simple majority for most matters is a core principle of our Government, and a unanimous decision from the States is only reserved for the most extreme of changes, often determined by plebiscite. I don't think changes to the Code warrant this level of reserve.
The Act should be reviewed by the Federal Parliament and appropriate measures taken so that its core principles are upheld. Any reading of the Act plainly and without demur states that adults should be allowed to enjoy adult entertainment. This is clearly not the case with video games as adult classification is not permitted.
Instead our typically dithering and ineffective Governments continue to pass the buck and wallow in bureaucracy, wasting our money on what is - at best - an item of legislative clerical administration.
Posted 10:38pm 10/12/10
Posted 11:27pm 11/12/10
http://au.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6285276&skipmc=1
Posted 11:36pm 11/12/10