The Review on the introduction of an R18+ rating for computer games closes on Sunday. To all of you who have not yet made a submission, I encourage you to do so.
To make a submission, use the template provided on the Attorney-General’s website. Fill out the questionnaire and add your own comments. It is critically important that we explain to the Australian Government that Australians are capable of making responsible decisions for themselves and for their children. You should explain, in your own words, why you believe we should not censor games designed for adults. Two particular points I think it’s important to get across are:
- If you are a parent, explain how you monitor and oversee what media your children are able to watch and play;
- Explain why you would like the opportunity to play games that deal with complex adult themes
We have almost completed our submission, drafted in conjunction with AusGamers. You may want to read through it for some ideas.
We believe that it is time that Australia accepts that games are not just for children – that games are a highly expressive media capable of conveying complex adult themes that are not suitable for children but which should not be banned. We believe that Australians are capable of making responsible choices about what games we play and what games we allow our children to play. We believe, crucially, that introducing an R18+ rating will help parents and all Australians make more informed choices by providing a clear indicator of video game content and aligning games classification more closely with film classification.
Please take the time to make your voice heard on this crucially important issue.