[PIGMI] R18 Classification Review

Nick Lowe nick at onetwenty.org
Tue Dec 7 18:49:12 PST 2010 

Below is a copy of what I sent (minus signature).

- Nick


Mr Christian Porter MLA,

You will soon meet with other Attorneys-General to decide whether an R18
+ classification for video games should be introduced to Australia.

There is overwhelming public support for the introduction of an R18+
classification (somewhere between 80% and 98% according to a recent
Galaxy national telephone survey and the results of public
consultation). The Federal Government recently indicated its support for
an R18+ classification, but the final decision requires approval from
the Attorneys-General.

In your inaugural speech to the Western Australia parliament, you noted
that you are a social individualist:

    "Simply put, collectively we all gain if each of us permits the
other to live as seems best to ourselves, rather than compelling
individuals and their families to live in a manner that seems best to
one or another powerful group or the government of the day."

I also feel that Australians must be allowed to live as seems best to
themselves, and I strongly believe that this necessarily includes
allowing Australian adults to make their own choices regarding which
video games they play, and informing their decisions regarding which
video games their children may play.

Allowing the government or any powerful lobby group to enforce a
minority view (that video games not suitable for 15 year-old children
must be refused classification and banned from sale in Australia) is
entirely counter to the tenets of social individualism and
representative democracy. As an elected member of parliament and
advocate of social justice, it is your responsibility to ensure that
these tenets are upheld.

I ask that you support the introduction of an R18+ classification for
video games in Australia.

Sincerely, 

- Nick Lowe


On Wed, 2010-12-08 at 10:05 +0800, Chris Kruger wrote:

> Also is there any PIGMI person (PP) who is particularly articulate;
> who might like to provide a template or some nice turns of phrase
> and/or facts from which we could all base our letters on. I know this
> is desperately lazy, but I was born with two left tongues (neither of
> which like anchovies).
> 
> On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 9:59 AM, Cameron Royal
> <cameron at sandboxsoftware.net> wrote:
> > Friend of mine in the government said we have a unique opportunity right now
> > to affect the outcome of this Attorney General meeting on Friday. Out of all
> > the states WA and Victorian AGs are most likely to oppose the R18
> > classification as they are backed by conservative governments. That is
> > unless we change their mind - he suggested everyone write an email to him
> > today / tomorrow showing your support for the new classification. The
> > argument of supporting public opinion is an easy one to fall back onto and
> > from the survey results, WA was most in favour.
> > We need to remind him of that.
> >
> > Honourable Christian Porter BA(Hons) BEc LLB(UWA) MSc(Dist) LSE MLA
> >
> > Attorney General; Minister for Corrective Services
> >
> > Address: 29th Floor, Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
> > Telephone: (08) 9220 5050
> > Fax: (08) 9221 4665
> > e-Mail: Minister.Porter at dpc.wa.gov.au
> > Internet: www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Christian-Porter
> >
> > -
> > Cam
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 12:37 PM, Wesley Lamont <pigmi at raez.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> Great News,
> >>
> >> So we are getting closer. I can't believe it will get stopped but there
> >> are the mighty powers of paranoia and fear of change at play I'm sure.
> >>
> >> Wesley Lamont
> >>
> >>
> >> On 06/12/2010, at 10:18 AM, Cameron Royal wrote:
> >>
> >> > New press release yesterday.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > UNCLASSIFIED
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > THE HON BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
> >> > MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND JUSTICE
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > MEDIA RELEASE
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Sunday, 5 December 2010
> >> >
> >> > An adult-only computer game classification to help protect our kids
> >> >
> >> > Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O’Connor today announced
> >> > that the Gillard Government will advocate for the introduction of an adult
> >> > only classification for video games.
> >> >
> >> > “We want to provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable
> >> > material from children and teenagers. The introduction of an R18+
> >> > classification will help achieve that.”
> >> >
> >> > The announcement comes ahead of Friday’s Standing Committee of
> >> > Attorneys-General meeting, where Classification Ministers will be asked to
> >> > make a decision on the issue.
> >> >
> >> > “We believe that this is the right decision for Australian families and
> >> > the right decision for parents who want to be able to make informed choices
> >> > about the games their children play.”
> >> >
> >> > “Children and teenagers shouldn’t be exposed to the gratuitous sex,
> >> > violence and adult themes that are contained in some computer games,” Mr
> >> > O’Connor said.
> >> >
> >> > “There are dozens of games that are currently classified as MA15+ in
> >> > Australia, but in other countries these gaming titles are restricted to
> >> > adults only.
> >> >
> >> > “If the new category is introduced, it could result in computer games
> >> > that are currently classified MA15+ being reclassified R18+, providing a new
> >> > level of protection for children.”
> >> >
> >> > “Games that are currently refused classification and do not meet the
> >> > standard required for R18+ classification will remain in the refused
> >> > classification category.”
> >> >
> >> > The argument for a new adult classification is backed by research, some
> >> > of which has been released in recent weeks. (For details visit
> >> > www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification).
> >> >
> >> > The latest available data is a Galaxy survey, requested by the Standing
> >> > Committee of Attorneys- General in May to assist Ministers in their decision
> >> > making.
> >> >
> >> > The national telephone survey shows that 80% of the 2,226 people
> >> > contacted said they support the introduction of an R18+ classification for
> >> > games.
> >> >
> >> > “This survey also reflects the community feedback that I and many
> >> > members of the Gillard Government have received from our constituents in
> >> > recent years,” he said.
> >> >
> >> > The national survey found that, of those surveyed:
> >> >       • 91% said that adults would know that a game classified R18+ is
> >> > clearly unsuitable for children
> >> >       • 81% aged over 50 agreed that there should be an R 18+
> >> > classification for computer games
> >> >       • 76% of households with children aged under 18 thought that there
> >> > should be an R18+ classification for computer games.
> >> >
> >> > Support was strong across all States and Territories:
> >> >       • Western Australia - 84%
> >> >       • Victoria - 82%
> >> >       • Tasmania - 82%
> >> >       • South Australia - 81%
> >> >       • Northern Territory - 81%
> >> >       • Queensland - 80%
> >> >       • New South Wales - 77%
> >> >       • Australian Capital Territory - 77%
> >> >
> >> > The survey results build on the recent public consultation, where 98% of
> >> > about 57,000 people supported the introduction of an adult classification.
> >> >
> >> > Australia’s most restrictive classification for video games is currently
> >> > MA15+. Games that do not satisfy this category are refused classification
> >> > and cannot be brought into Australia.
> >> >
> >> > An R18+ classification for computer games can only be introduced with
> >> > the agreement of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers.
> >> >
> >> > <101205 R18+ National Telephone Poll.pdf><101205 R18+
> >> > survey.pdf>_______________________________________________
> >> > PIGMI mailing list - http://pigmi.org/ - pigmi at pigmi.org
> >> > Unsubscribe: http://lists.pigmi.org/listinfo.cgi/pigmi-pigmi.org
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cameron Royal Sandbox
> > email | cameron at sandboxsoftware.net - web | www.sandboxsoftware.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Unsubscribe: http://lists.pigmi.org/listinfo.cgi/pigmi-pigmi.org
> >
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