Portfolio Department
Responsible Area
Title
Type of entry
Description of activity
Attorney-General’s Department
Civil Law Division
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games)
Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012
Past Regulatory Activity
Prior to the Bill passing there was no adult category for computer
games. Games which were unsuitable for a minor to see or play
were refused classification. The introduction of an R 18+ category
allows computer games with high impact classifiable elements to be
classified.
The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games)
Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012 amended the
Classification (Films, Publications and Computer Games) Act 1995 to
introduce an R 18+ category for computer games and made
consequential amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992
(Cth) to recognise the R 18+ category.
Information on the Bill is available at
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/B
ills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r4754
States and Territories amended their respective classification
enforcement legislation to regulate the availability of R 18+
computer games.
Date of effect
Contact details
Date last modified
This reform also involved the introduction of newly-negotiated
separate Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games, and
the consequential preparation of stand-alone Guidelines for the
Classification of Films. Consequential amendments were also
made to the National Classification Code, the Customs (Prohibited
Imports) Regulations 1956, the Customs (Prohibited Exports)
Regulations 1958, the Classification (Advertising of Unclassified
Films and Computer Games) Determination 2009, and the
Classification (Markings for Films and Computer Games)
Determination 2007. All States and Territories have amended their
classification enforcement legislation to recognise the introduction
of the R18+ category.
The provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and
Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012
commenced on 1 January 2013.
Michele Reddy
Acting Director, Policy Section
Classification Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
Ph:(02) 9289 7128
Fax: (02)9289 7101
[email protected]
16 July 2013