Queensland takes on Atkinson!

A petition from the politicians, for the gamers - hell yeah.

A Queensland state government petition went online a couple of days ago, calling on the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland to, in the petitions words:

" ...request the House that [the Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995] be amended to permit computer games to receive the R18+ classification when they have been refused classification under the Commonwealth Act."

Nice bloody work the Hon Kate Jones MP, who has sponsored the bill.

Now, this is only open to Queensland residents, but I know we've got a lot of Atomicans up in cane toad country, so here's your call to arms. Sign. Sign, and show those in power that gamers have a fair and reasoned voice, that we want laws in line with modern gaming, and that we will continue to fight for this freedom.

Just... sign.

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58 Comments

Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.

Count Nov 20, 2009 4:15 PM	Go for it! The brilliant news is, even if ATkinson blocks this in the SOAG, Queensland can make R18 a state level classification anyway if it passes parliament! God on you guys!
omega Nov 20, 2009 4:21 PM	Only time ive been jealous of Queenslanders (not a fan of the heat). Id love to be able to sign a petition and send it off to each State's representative showing how popular this is and how... backwards Senator Atkinson is.
johnsee Nov 20, 2009 4:23 PM	Siiiigned
Ghost_Bear Nov 20, 2009 4:27 PM	Signed!
SquallStrife Nov 20, 2009 4:28 PM	Count, Oldkinson doesn't have a say in amendments to QLD law amendments. Remember that the classification act is a commonwealth act, but the laws that enforce it are state acts.
SquallStrife Nov 20, 2009 4:28 PM	One too many amendments in there.
box124 Nov 20, 2009 4:30 PM	Sign it guys its the steping stone for all australians to get an R18 rating
2SHY Nov 20, 2009 4:38 PM	Urges all gamers from QLD to sign it NOW!!!!
Count Nov 20, 2009 4:38 PM	SquallStrife: You are indeed correct, but the OFLC is a federal level classification doctrine, any changes to the OFLC go through all AGs (Current problem). If QLD passes a law through parliament, they can bypass the OLFC but legally the AG has to tender this at the next AG conference before parliament can tell Atkinson to go spin on it. That's how it worked for Canberra with X rated videos back in the day.
Periander Nov 20, 2009 4:41 PM	Signed!
SquallStrife Nov 20, 2009 4:50 PM	But Count, they're not changing the /commonwealth/ classification act. They're amending a state law.
zyklon Nov 20, 2009 5:05 PM	Signed
Ezekill Nov 20, 2009 5:08 PM	Signed, forwarded link to freinds. Signed a few others while I was there. 20% increase in car rego, WFT ?
psyckle Nov 20, 2009 5:24 PM	Shame its only a QLD only petition otherwise I'd be there in a beat
Rofloorsander Nov 20, 2009 5:33 PM	Signed!
sUpEr gEEk Nov 20, 2009 6:10 PM	Great just great the QLDer's first flog us @ state of origin and now this now I am starting to hate living in Syd except for the Atomic and byteside events
SlurmsMackenzie Nov 20, 2009 6:26 PM	We can always smuggle games across the border super geek
Tezlin Nov 20, 2009 6:32 PM	Signed! :o
Tabonka Nov 20, 2009 6:52 PM	Signed, and have spread the word!
moofactory Nov 20, 2009 7:14 PM	someone msg kotaku, ign.au etc.. spread the word.
discoInferno Nov 20, 2009 7:46 PM	Signed. QLDer!
g0t.w00t? Nov 20, 2009 8:06 PM	signed!
CK Nov 20, 2009 8:15 PM	Signed and Site says there are currently 1659 sigs completed.
SquallStrife Nov 20, 2009 9:52 PM	I just put it on Digg. That's still a thing isn't it?
Xenon Star Nov 20, 2009 9:58 PM	Signed!
winstor Nov 20, 2009 10:35 PM	Emailed The Hon Michael Atkinson and recieved a reply, this is a quote from the letter. "In Australia there is merit in a national classification scheme that requires unanimity between jurisdictions. State and Territory borders are incapable of restricting media to jurisdictions: once games classifird R18+ are available in one State they will be readily available in others. It will be no different from visitors to the Australian Capital Territory taking home explicit pornography, which they could not purchase in their own State. With people travelling so readily between States and Territories, a State-based classification coding system would be unworkable and useless. If Victoria introduced an R18+ classification and South Australia did not, we could not prevent R18+ games coming into this State." Go Queensland, pass this so we can all have access to the media we want!
SceptreCore Nov 20, 2009 11:10 PM	It's about time.
H3VIW8 Nov 20, 2009 11:14 PM	signed, about bloody time. go QLD'rs, i so hope this gets passed. forwarded to all my QLD comrades.
NagChampa Nov 21, 2009 4:27 AM	Signed! It's about time someone made a move to block an MP from an entirely different state trying to control how the whole country is run.
Waltish Nov 21, 2009 5:58 AM	Signed
theflyingswan Nov 21, 2009 10:41 AM	Done. . .. ...
Mordecai Nov 21, 2009 2:36 PM	This is some fun news. If this passes in QLD other states may take up a similar bill and push it through. Hmm maybe time to send a letter off to the Vic AG and see if they like the idea of a state based R18+.
index680i Nov 21, 2009 2:54 PM	Fucking signed.
tanmoyrf Nov 21, 2009 5:48 PM	The visit was useful. Content was really very informative. From www.globalsaridelivery.com
colganaitor Nov 21, 2009 7:20 PM	Yeay! :D It's good to see someone with their head screwed on properly.
Ezekill Nov 21, 2009 9:56 PM	tanmoyrf.....WTF are you on about ? Spam @ Atomic ? Shame.
meta4 Nov 21, 2009 11:22 PM	Signed, at least it's a start.
morris Nov 21, 2009 11:29 PM	Signed. And link and article passed to friends too. And a link supplied on my facebook too.
Vanoyen Nov 22, 2009 3:32 AM	Signed
NobodyIsHere Nov 22, 2009 9:44 AM	if only this would happen in S.A... GL to qld, i hope this passes with flying colours, cause if it passes there, it will follow suit into other states, forcing Atkinson to wake up and see that is what Australians want.
Argotha Nov 22, 2009 1:51 PM	YAYS! I like my society slightly more than I did
seab4ss Nov 22, 2009 4:31 PM	Hell yes! Signed!
mattstandingup Nov 22, 2009 8:37 PM	Signed. R18 = Games for grownups not violence for kids.
Glitch_Neutrino Nov 23, 2009 9:24 AM	Signed. I find it thoroughly disappointing that otherwise complete PC games would be altered just to match a warped sense of politically correct censorship laws, laws which do not entirely reflect the opinions of the many that must abide by them. I don't understand where this requirement to classify PC games at no further than MA15+ for us Australians comes from? Reality is often far more frightening than any game I've played.. Realism in games is something I believe us gamers all like to see; from titties to torn limbs and PhysX to facial expressions-if it's out there in the 'ole blue it ought to be in the games we play too. So why are we covering ourselves with a censorship security blanket? And failing to acknowledge what this country needs? If games are going to continue to be so candy-faced and look like they were made for my 8 year old cousin, then that's whose going to play them and then we all lose.. R18+..It’s the only way to go.. And if really need be, then simply treat the R18+ rated PC games as if they were liquor or your favourite bottle of red and then sell them as such too. -Credit Card, ID (licence), a 25 or under courtesy policy and done.
ColonelSanders Nov 23, 2009 12:44 PM	Normally QLD is conservative...interesting to see that they want to allow R18+ 'puter games
Déta88 Nov 23, 2009 12:49 PM	i so hope they aproved this, ima jump ova a cliff in happiness :P
ColonelSanders Nov 23, 2009 2:39 PM	I also heard they want to force Castlemaine Perkins/Lion Nathan to change the name of XXXX beer..
somemadcaaant Nov 23, 2009 3:46 PM	Holy heart failure, Batman! This is amazing news, signed/spread. Put it on facebook ppl.
Shift Nov 23, 2009 7:33 PM	Hmmm, I think somebody would benefit from a Autobot PSA... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRj7PCGGr4c&feature=related Wait a minute, I meant this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE5s0tG6Bwc&feature=player_embedded That'll teach those politicians to jump to conclusions!
ColonelSanders Nov 24, 2009 9:15 AM	He also wants to ban people having fun, having sex and just enjoying life. His justification is that we should all be robots and do as he says and take it lying down
Ploddy Nov 24, 2009 2:54 PM	Hey, I just thought of something. If this passes, Steam will lift their ban on regoinal restrictions for Australia and we can all buy LFD2 and play it the way its meant to be played - I cant imagine them making a separate region just for QLD, can you?
smadge1 Nov 25, 2009 12:08 PM	umm, there is the region au-qld :P
Count Nov 25, 2009 2:49 PM	actually smadge, there isnt, that's just a download location preference, not a steam location :P Besides, L4D2 is sold in 3 key types only, Au, De and Int. So if they lift the ban on QLD, they either sell the Au copies uncensored, or any keys sold to QLD become Int instead of AU. They can't control that since the country's ISPs dont break addresses down into state-territory groups, so they'd either have to keep the ban on, or lift it :)
King_TriTAN Nov 26, 2009 3:23 PM	It currently has 4000 signatures that's more then any EPetition currently active. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/ClosedEPetitions.aspx?LIndex=2 I want to see it at 10,000 sigs.
ColonelSanders Nov 26, 2009 4:58 PM	Problem is that it wont make any difference..but loving the effort
creeky Nov 27, 2009 7:43 PM	"Banned in Queensland ? Banned in Victorian Schools!" was a common phrase used back in my high school days and I am due to turn 35 next week. Still remember seeing the sticker on various movies like Silent Night Deadly Night and Texas Chainsaw Massacre with these stickers "Banned in QLD" From a state that was once upon a time so far backward with its own censorship of violent movies. This is a great step forward. Will be mainly for the suport of game developer industry up there, dont worry providing it all goes through Vics will have to do the same or lose the same industry based in Melb to QLD.
pappes Nov 28, 2009 12:15 AM	If anyone need to couchsurf in QLD for a few nights, just PM me, I can recommend a few addresses :)
Anakin64 Jan 18, 2010 8:33 AM	Just voted, and it still has the highest number of signatures active. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/CurrentEPetitions.aspx?LIndex=1

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