SCAG to turn down 18+ rating for Australia

A forward-looking Australian politician has said he will refuse to grant an 18+ certificate for the country, meaning that the oldest age-ratings available for games will remain at 15+ after a Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting on March 28.

A spokesperson for Michael Atkinson, the South Australian attorney-general, has confirmed that he will maintain his long-running opposition to the proposed system.

"The attorney-general remains very firmly opposed to introducing an R rating for computer games in Australia," the spokesperson said.

Minister Atkinson would not consider an 18+ rating even if there were measures to protect children from being exposed to adult content, the spokesperson said.

"He doubts whether any safeguards could be put in place to deter young people, who after all (are) the most computer literate and savvy in our society, from being able to access material."

It was hoped that the meeting might yield a decent debate on the subject, although the chance of a positive result has never been good.