[ToR.Arnor]

Yesterday on June 18th 2012 the Australian Federal Parliament passed legislation allowing for an adult only computer game classification. This has been hotly debated for many years now and the new law forms the Commonwealth's side of a deal with states and territories to include the R18+ rating in the computer games classification system.

Previously the highest rating available to the computer games classification board was the MA15+ rating, which meant that either computer games that would otherwise be deemed adult-only where either banned or given the MA15+ rating allowing children to obtain them. The new laws bring computer games in line with the classification system for films, music and other material. This makes Australia more consistent with international standards and in turn legitimises the maturity of content available through computer games.

For Gamers across the country this will legitimise many computer games and adult worthy content that had been banned. It also stands as an important point for Australian Gamers as not only the Commonwealth Government but the respective State and Territories government's officially recognise computer games as a media platform that caters to people from all walks of life. This also marks an important step forward for the esports industry as it provides legitimacy to gaming and competitive gamging in the eyes of many government bodies and the eyes of parents across Australia.

"The R18+ category will informy consumers, parents and retailers about which games are not suitable for minors to play and will prevent minors from purchasing unsuitable material," Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said in a statment made yesterday, "These are important reforms 10 years in the making, the reforms also mean that adults are able to choose what games they play within the bounds of the law."

The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012 passed the Senate on Monday night with bipartisan support. There has been overwhelming support during the years of consultation and in the preparation of the bill one discussion paper recieved more than 58,000 submissions with most in favour.

Shadow attorney-general George Brandis stated that it "classifying all media according to a single set of criteria" made sense and would make Australia's classification regime uniform across all categories.

Shadow attorney-general George Brandis said it made sense that Australia's classification regime would now be uniform "classifying all media according to a single set of criteria". The bill has the backing of state and territory attorneys-general who agreed to the classification overhaul in mid-2011, and will pass their own complementary legislation to ensure that R18+ computer games recieve appropriate endorsement and regulation.

The national classification scheme is set to begin Australia-wide January 1st, 2013.

Source: http://www.esportsdaily.com.au/index...-news&Itemid=2