News

Queensland won't be selling R18+ in Australia on 1st January
Posted: 03.12.2012 07:03 by JonahFalcon Comments: 15
Gamers in the state of Queensland in Australia won't be able to play R18+ games as the rest of the country will be doing, because it will be waiting for the result of the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee report on videogames.

While the R18+ rating will be in effect starting the 1st January 2013, the report won't be issued til the 7th February 2013.

According to a spokesperson for the Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, "All Bills introduced to the Queensland Parliament, with the exception of Bills that are considered urgent, are referred to a committee to ensure the appropriate consultation can occur.

"Between January 1, 2013 and when the Bill passes in Queensland, R18+ computer games will continue to be caught by the definition of 'objectionable computer games' under the Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995.

"This means R18+ computer games cannot be publicly demonstrated, made, or sold until the law is amended in Queensland."

Gamers in the state of Queensland will have to wait another five weeks til they enjoy the rights as adults to play adult-oriented games.
Source: GameSpot

Comments

By lichlord (SI Core) on Dec 03, 2012
lichlord
I don't get you Aussies...
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 03, 2012
SirRoderick
Seems like queensland is a bit of a one-off sorta place then. Any seperatists there?
By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Dec 03, 2012
Chosen_One
Ahahaha
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Dec 03, 2012
Hammerjinx
Queensland is a bit whacky. They don't do daylight savings and a lot of laws are a bit different there. If you get a national police check done, you have to fill in a separate form to also run a Queensland police check.

This isn't the first time that a law has come in federally and Queensland has said "Yeah? Well, we'll just see about that before we let it be law here too."

It's been a long time coming getting the R rating tho, so a 5 week delay isn't as bad as all that. Wasn't all that long ago that the R rating was rejected as unnecessary because games are for kids.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 03, 2012
herodotus
Bloody, frakking typical. I'm a Queenslander and I really am not surprised that the useless Liberal National Party here (f*#*kers that they are) have done this. Campbell Newman - go to Hell! I didn't bloody well vote for you, ya pillock!
It's not a "whacky" state, Hammer but has always been different from the rest of Australia. More of a cowboy frontier than anywhere else, and very much still rural-based with simpleton countryboy thinking. Time Qld. grew the frak up!
By Jasca_Ducato (SI Core) on Dec 04, 2012
Jasca_Ducato
How odd... Surely there's nothing stopping an individual from crossing the state line (assuming they're willing to make the trip) and buying the game elsewhere. The law says nothing about owning and/or playing an 18+ game in private.
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 04, 2012
SirRoderick
Well the same goes for most laws like that. Take Europe for instance, anything that I couldn't buy here or would had to pay more taxes on, I could I theory just get from one of the other member states.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 04, 2012
herodotus
Yes, but if caught you'll know doubt face confiscation and a fine. Our states are like that (doesn't stop anybody though). Denying something to the public is a red rag to a bull and always has been. Make it unavailable, and it at once doubles (at least) in it's popularity.
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Dec 04, 2012
Hammerjinx
I meant whacky, like out-of-step. They're the most likely to need coaxing into agreeing to a federal standard.

I agree - banning something only makes it stand out more, especially if you're a little liberal with your bans (pun'd).

Crossing borders with contraband in the EU would depend on what it is. I don't think too many people would bat an eyelid at a computer game that was just a bit too violent to get classification locally, but bringing pot from Holland would be less accepted I think.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 04, 2012
herodotus
PS. I agree with Daylight Saving. Trouble is our country cousins don't (makes the curtains fade, and the cows won't produce milk:D). I rag on them as I'm a country boy myself.
Crossing the Qld. border can sometimes be awkward sometimes too, as we Northerners don't trust the Southern States.
By Hammerjinx (SI Veteran Member) on Dec 06, 2012
Hammerjinx
It seems to be the trend that people who live in warm/tropical areas don't trust their countrymen who can survive in colder climates. :P
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 06, 2012
herodotus
No, no. It's just that we were adventurous and courageous enough to head into the Forbidden Zone away from the safety of Botany Bay, Perth and the like. We're special....and no, not in the way you just thought Hammer:)
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 07, 2012
SirRoderick
I'l never argue that you're not special hero ;)
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 07, 2012
herodotus
....mutter, mutter..."wanka"....
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 07, 2012
SirRoderick
Love you too :)