Tougher video game laws in South Australia: Are they working?
Friday 27 September 2013 @ 9.13 a.m. | IP & Media | Legal Research
South Australian Attorney-General John Rau has expressed doubt over whether new video game classification rules are being rigorously applied, and will write to the Federal Government seeking scrutiny of the board involved.
While the South Australian Government had backed introduction of an R18+ classification and tightened MA15+ rules, Mr. Rau is concerned that games are being given a MA15+ rating in Australia but higher age classifications overseas.
"It is concerning to me, particularly as a parent... These particular games have been assessed as having intense violence, blood and gore, nudity and suggestive themes," he said.
"If the standards are not more rigorously applied I will be referring each of these games to the South Australian Classification Council for review."
Mr Rau said he wanted the new federal Attorney-General George Brandis to review the way the Australian Classification Board was assessing new video games.
However, many new games can contain over 30 hours of gameplay, which makes classification a difficult task.
Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the national classification scheme works effectively; however, South Australia is free to implement its own systems if desired.
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