Legal Niches

Australian Liberal Party Leader 'Happy' to Look at 18+ Rating

By james_fudge

Tony Abbott, the leader of the Australian Liberal Party, says he would be happy to take a closer look at the 18+ age ratings for videogames in the country - should his party be elected to the government. Abbot made the comment at a public forum in Sydney, where he was asked about his views on the absence of an R18 rating for video games and what his policy was on it.

"If what happens with videogames is not roughly analogous to what happens in other areas, that seems silly," Abbot said in his response. "Instinctively I'm with you, and it's something I'd be happy to look at, if we are in Government", he added. "If you think there is a problem, I would be happy to look at it." However, Abbott was blissfully unaware that there had been a debate on the issue.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General is to take up the issue in November, following a submission from Australia's Interactive Games & Entertainment Association and an in-store petition led by retailer EB Games. We'll see if this bears any fruit. Read More

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Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on August 15, 2010 (boomark / email).