Last Friday, all nine federal, state, and territory censorship ministers met in Adelaide to discuss the introduction of an adult classification for video games in Australia. After two hours of deliberation, ministers agreed to an in-principle contract to introduce an R18+ rating for games. GameSpot AU was on the ground in Adelaide, covering the action as it unfolded. Below is a timeline of events.
9 a.m.--Ministers convene inside the SCAG meeting rooms at Adelaide Zoo to discuss R18+ for games.
10:30 a.m.--The meeting is interrupted for a morning tea break. GameSpot AU learns that all jurisdictions have agreed to the introduction of R18+ except for NSW, which was the only state to abstain from the R18+ vote.
11 a.m.--GameSpot AU breaks the story, detailing NSW's decision to take the R18+ issue back to its own Cabinet and make a decision as soon as possible rather than wait for the results of the Australian Law Reform Commission classification review, as was its previous intention.
12 p.m.--Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor holds a press conference outside the SCAG meeting, announcing the Federal Government's intention to move ahead and introduce R18+ for games based on an in-principle agreement formed by eight states and territories. At this stage, it is unclear how NSW's decision to abstain from the R18+ vote will affect this.
12:15 p.m.--NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith announces his intention to take the R18+ issue back to his Cabinet and come up with a position soon; he states that his reasons for abstaining from the vote stem from a lack of knowledge on the topic. He highlights his certainty that NSW will not go against the other jurisdictions and will eventually support R18+ for games.
12:30 p.m.--O'Connor speaks to GameSpot AU, making it clear that R18+ for games will be introduced at a federal level, even without the support of NSW. He states that this is something that he hopes will only take a few months to happen, meaning that Australia could have an R18+ before the end of the year. O'Connor goes on to state that he believes NSW will eventually support R18+, but says that it will be up to them whether or not they want to enforce the rating in the state once it is introduced nationally.
1 p.m.--South Australian Attorney-General John Rau speaks to GameSpot AU and reiterates his intention to fold the MA15+ category into R18+ in SA. Rau speaks of a "sticker system" in the state, whereby all games that are rated MA15+ nationally will be automatically relabeled with an R18+ sticker in South Australia. Rau outlines his reasons for this as being to make the distinction between content for children and content for adults all the more clearer.
1:30 p.m.--A press release from O'Connor's office is officially sent out, detailing the SCAG decision. According to the release, the next step in the process is for all jurisdictions to seek approval for the new R18+ guidelines from their respective Cabinets. "Draft guidelines presented at the last meeting have since been amended, and this requires some jurisdictions to seek approval from their respective Cabinets. Once that is achieved, the Commonwealth will begin drafting the legislation necessary to introduce the new [R18+] classification."
2 p.m.--EA becomes the first publisher to comment on the R18+ decision, telling GameSpot AU that it was a long time coming.
2:30 p.m.--SCAG meeting ends.
Below are GameSpot AU's interviews with Brendan O'Connor and John Rau.
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R18+ Classification Interview With Brendan O'Connor
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R18+ Classification Interview With John Rau
Tears Of The Kingdom Is A Technological Marvel
Resident Evil 4 Is A Perfect RemakeHow Alan Wake II Made Me Face My Fear of Horror GamesGameSpot's Top 10 Games of 2023Thompson: The Pop Culture Icon’s Strange Legacy - LoadoutFirearms Expert’s FAVORITE Weapons Of 2023State Of Gaming Handhelds In 2023Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Ichiban Kasuga Character Spotlight TrailerHow Lies of P Cracked the Souls GenreLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Chitose Fujinomiya Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Eric Tomizawa Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Kazuma Kiryu Character Spotlight Trailer
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