SCAG lags on R18+ games

14.05.2010
Australia's Attorney-Generals have remained coy on whether classification reform for video games will be considered before the federal election.

The introduction of an R18+ rating was set-back at a Standing Committee of Attorney-Generals (SCAG) last week after Northern Territory AG and state Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, missed the event due to budget commitments.

Her absence meant a decision to lift the ban on games rated above MA15+ could not be made. In a further blow, Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Conner, said the SCAG will require more information on the reasons for and against classification reform, despite receiving more than 600,000 responses on the matter following a call for public submissions in December.

The SCAG Communiqué states the reform will be considered at a "future meeting", but government AG officials refused to reveal the agenda for the next meeting on 22 and 23 June.

That meeting will be the last chance for the eight state AGs to vote on reform before the November federal election deadline. The third and final SCAG meeting this year is set for 4 and 5 November.

The rating will be rejected if one AG votes against the R18+ classification, which occurred under former South Australian AG Michael Atkinson, who was .