BRISBANE: Brisbane gamers are leading calls for a national overhaul of Australia’s classification regime.
Myer Centre video and computer games retailer GAME, along with gaming news website Pal Gaming Network (PALGN) have launched a campaign to put pressure on governments to support an R 18+ game classification. Currently the highest classification is MA 15+ and any product exceeding the bounds of this is banned.
Games classification legislation requires unanimous support of all state attorneys-general.
The national petition has been running for only three weeks and has attracted 40,000 signatures of support, 1500 from customers of the Brisbane city store alone.
PALGN director Roland Kulen said interest in the petition was rivalling that for one initiated to oppose the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation.
“WorkChoices got just over 81,000 signatures and we’re at over 40,000 in just two and a half weeks,” he said.
“It is not over until the games classification legislation is changed and change doesn’t come easy. We’re in this for the long haul.”
GAME managing director Rob Lukic said an R 18+ classification would allow adults the freedom of choice to play games with mature content, and help to ensure that these games were not rated MA 15+.
“The public should be educated to ensure that children are not exposed to any video games with mature content, and the R 18+ classification provides a clear message that this is the case,” Mr Lukic said.
“It will allow stores to offer clear advice to all customers on the suitability of the content for the end user.”
Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick said he believed the issue should be resolved to give certainty to the industry.
“We are currently finalising our position in relation to the issues,” he said.
What do you think? Tell us at http://www.city-news.com.au.
Source: whereilive
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