While the ACT, South Australian and New South Wales have already passed legislation paving the way for lawful sale of R18+ rated video games once new federal classifications come into effect on January 1st 2013, the Queensland State government has confirmed that the process won't be moving forward in the Sunshine State until at least February, due to the committee review process (via
GameSpot):
Instead, the Queensland Government will await the result of a Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee report--due to be released on February 7, 2013--before debating the R18+ legislation in parliament and officially amending the state's law to include an R18+ classification for video games. (The R18+ legislation was introduced in the Queensland Parliament on October 31, but was referred to the committee.)
According to a spokesperson for the Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, all Bills introduced in the state's parliament undergo this process.
"All Bills introduced to the Queensland Parliament, with the exception of Bills that are considered urgent, are referred to a committee to ensure the appropriate consultation can occur," the spokesperson told GameSpot Australia.
According to the QLD Attorney-General's office, "This means R18+ computer games cannot be publicly demonstrated, made, or sold until the law is amended in Queensland.".
There's still a chance that the delay won't have much impact on Queensland gamers, as most games released in the early months of the year will likely have been submitted to classification while the old system is still in affect, leaving a month or two for the Queensland Government to sort itself out.
However, as the federal legislation was passed back in June, one does have to wonder why yet another review of such well-worn subject matter should still be lingering eight months later, particularly by a state government recently elected on a platform of stopping waste.
Posted 07:19pm 03/12/12
Posted 07:31pm 03/12/12
F*#k this makes me so angry.. when it comes to churches or anything the cant do numan wants, there is no consoltaion.. not they want consoltaion? f**king neanderthals
last edited by TufNuT at 19:31:22 03/Dec/12
Posted 07:41pm 03/12/12
So what do they hope to gain by reviewing it again?
Posted 08:09pm 03/12/12
Posted 08:19pm 03/12/12
Interesting bit:
Posted 09:15pm 03/12/12
If that isn't the case then it sounds like a pretty flimsy law. Otherwise retailers could potentially just use foreign classification systems and/or sell games that the classification board has given an A+ for Awesome rating.
Edit: This seems to be relevant - http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/legisltn/current/c/classcomgama95.pdf
I'm no lawyer but if I'm reading it correctly then a QLD classification officer has the power to reclassify games sold within the state to a different classification from the federal system if they wanted to.
Posted 09:17pm 03/12/12
Posted 09:44pm 03/12/12
Posted 09:52pm 03/12/12