Freedom at last my Australian Gaming Comrades!

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,23301862-3102,00.html

(Edit: Second article, this time from Fairfax: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/technology/rrated-games-may-be-on-shelves-soon/2008/02/24/1203788178562.html)

OK OK, cries of victory may be a bit premature. But, considering the history of video game censorship in Australia, the very fact that a R-18 + rating is being considered by the Attorney-Generals is revolutionary. Personally, I would have never thought that this would happen so soon. I thought that the new federal government would stay the same course as the Howard government out of fear of losing the paranoid parent vote. But, I guess, with the fairly complete victory last year and the large grace period that this victory has allowed, the Rudd government is going ahead with a move that would be considered by many older political commentators to be a vote loser.

Of course, the next election is a long time away and I'm sure that this change, if made, would be forgotten by the paranoid parents by then.

From the reports that I have read it seems that New South Wales and Queensland are for the R-18+ rating, while South Australia (who quotes some common misconceptions about gamers to support his decision) is against it. I'm not sure how the decision will be made, but if it is to be a majority vote among the Attorney-Generals we might get over the line.

Viva la quiet change made by state and federal attorney-generals!