NSW abstains from R18+ vote but says it will decide on the matter “ASAP”; all other states and territories agree to the introduction of the adult classification.
ADELAIDE–All states and territories except NSW today agreed in principle to the introduction of an R18+ classification for games.
The ministers met in Adelaide today at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting (SCAG) to discuss the fate of the long-disputed R18+ for games. Despite Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor’s insistence that the issue be resolved during today’s meeting, NSW abstained from the R18+ vote today, while all other states and territories agreed in principle to the introduction of an R18+ for games. NSW said it would go back to its own cabinet to decide, and that this decision would not take long. NSW is considering calling an out of session cabinet meeting about the issue.
Earlier this week, the NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith announced his decision to abstain from the R18+ vote at today’s SCAG meeting, effectively delaying the process yet again due to the national requirement that any changes to the National Classification Code require the unanimous agreement between all nine federal, state and territory censorship ministers. After Smith’s announcement, both Western Australia and Victoria declared they were seeking further amendments to the R18+ guidelines.
This delay was one of a long line of set-backs for the adult classification, which has been on the SCAG agenda since 2002. In December last year, the federal government announced its public support for the rating, before postponing another vote on the issue before the end of the year.
Earlier this year, O’Connor’s office publicly released the proposed R18+ draft guidelines and hinted at seeking other options should state and territory censorship minister fail to reach consensus on the issue soon.
Other states have been ready to adopt the adult classification for games since April this year, with South Australia and the ACT eager to “go it alone” if necessary, provided the Commonwealth finds a way to introduce R18+ at a federal level without the unanimous agreement of all states and territories. South Australia went a step further, proposing to abolish the MA15+ category in the state and fold it into the R18+ rating.
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