There has finally been a resolution to the R18+ classification issue today and the federal government have said that they will be introducing the new classification before the end of the year.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting was held today and a vote was finally held on the R18+ classification issue. All states except NSW voted yes to the new guidelines which were presented at the previous SCAG meeting for review, with NSW choosing to abstain from voting. The NSW Attorney-General stated that he will be taking the issue back to his state’s cabinet for a decision to be made and that it would not take long.

Brendan O’Connor, the Federal Minister for Home Affairs and long standing supporter of the R18+ rating, today said that he would push the classification forward on a federal level and that it would be each state’s choice whether or not to adopt it. He also stated that the new classification would be introduced within a few months, and definitely before the end of the year.

Although the specifics to the guidelines still need to be ironed out, this is a great day for Gaming in Australia as we will now (hopefully) have less games banned, as well as a better system of providing parents with correct advice on what games are suitable for their children. Let us know your thoughts on this outcome below!