The legislation passed the House of Representatives without amendment.
Last week, MP Judi Moylan spoke to Parliament in favor of the bill, stating that the bill should be passed so that there was a consistent grade for all media.
”The R18+ category is not a generic free-for-all category without limit; games with a high impact of violence or sexual content will still be refused classification,” she stated ”This ensures minors don’t have access to this material.”
”The distinction between interactive and non-interactive entertainment is becoming increasingly blurred. Having an R18+ for video games is a sensible response to the changing attitudes and demographics of gamers, and it empowers parents and consumers through increased awareness and knowledge. I think with this bill we have arrived at the best possible outcome,” she added.
MP Ed Husic, the federal member for Chifley, gave an economic reason for passing the bill to Parliament. ”It’s an important reform not just for Australian adults, but also for the flourishing industry that is involved in the development and design of games in Australia,” he stated, ”The industry is growing, and we have a fantastic international reputation. R18+ for games will improve our industry’s competitiveness in the global industry.”
Husic added that videogames were no longer solely for children, and that he himself owned an Xbox 360. ”This reform has taken too long. The R18+ bill reflects the growing up of our nation. Gaming is no longer the sole domain of young people. I admit I have an Xbox 360 at home, and I play it with my wife. It’s well and truly time we introduced R18+. It will make the system more relevant to the community,” he revealed.
Should legislation pass through the Senate without a hiccup, it’ll scheduled to become federal law on January 1, 2013.
