While NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith abstained from the vote, Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O’Connor, promised the federal government would over-ride NSW and implement the R18+ rating regardless of its decision, though expressing a desire to get their vote as well before that happened.
Smith may bow to pressure. Greens MP David Shoebridge attacked Smith, pointing out “Greg Smith should stop moralising and start looking into having sensible rules to reflect the material that is out there and at the same time ensure that consumers are properly informed. Public submissions were overwhelmingly in favour of the introduction of the R18+ category. To abstain from the vote despite knowing months in advance that it would occur is politically culpable.”
O’Connor stated at the press conference, “We’ve now struck an historic agreement and we can move forward to having an adult classification in this country as is the case in New Zealand, the US, Europe and many other parts of the world.”
Australian is the last developed country to adopt a Mature rating for videogames.
