Grow up Australia has just been informed of an event in Sydney that has been organised for tomorrow. The event is being organised by a new Pro R18+ website R18+ Games Australia and aims to raise awareness about the discussion paper and encourage people to get involved in the public consultation.
R18GamesAustralia.com was created by Luke Lawrie who writes for Australian Gamer. There is also a Facebook Event you can join if you plan on attending tomorrow.
Below is the content of the email that we received today detailing the event. Hope to see you there.
Gamers and non-gamers alike will be taking to the footpaths outside of the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney on Saturday the 9th ofJanuary to raise awareness about the Australian Government’s recent discussion paper regarding the classification system for video games in Australia.
The discussion paper calls for public response to the current system which, unlike that of many other nations, does not include an R18+ rating for the video game medium. This event aims to encourage participation and public response, with copies of submission forms available.
Information sheets about video games, including details about the current and proposed classification system will be made accessible on the day.
MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
Where Queen Victoria Building, Corner of George and Druitt Streets, Sydney
Posted on 2009-11-24by Aaron Percivalin UpdatesComments Off on “Mick” Is Takin’ It To The Streets
Grow up Australia has just discovered that Michael Atkinson will be appearing in Findon, a suburb in his electorate of Croydon. In a letter that was emailed to us he states:
I like making myself available to listen to what local people are saying – not just at election time. No matter where you live, we’ll be less than a five-minute walk away. You are welcome to come along to any of the meetings and raise matters you think are of importance to you and your family.
The letter in full is displayed below.
The Honourable Michael Atkinson is the Attorney-General most vocally opposed to the introduction of an R18+ for video games. You can read his 6 page letter on the subject here and listen to a recent radio interview on the ABC here.
We are encouraging people who live in Adelaide to attend one of these Street Corner Meetings and bring the issue up with Atkinson. If anyone takes any photos or video footage please send it through to us at contact@growupaustralia.com
We have added an Events Calendar to the Grow up Australia site to allow people to keep track of any activities they may wish to participate in. Anyone who is planing an event or knows about one please email events@growupaustralia.com with the appropriate details including a short description, event URL and event dates.
The latest event added to the calendar is the Treat Us Like Adults Rally in Brisbane planned for the 5th of December. The Treat Us Like Adults Rally is being organised by Ethan Watson a game programmer. Ethan hopes the rally will reach gamers who don’t engage with the online gaming community.
Interestingly Ethan also supports the introduction of an X18+ rating for games to deal with games that only contain sexually explicit content. Films rated X18+ in Australia are only legally available in the ACT or Northern Territory.
In addition to the Event Calendar we have also added a number of Grow up Australia badges that people can add to their blog or website. Don’t forget to link the badge to our site!
Aussie Gamers all around the country are preparing to take to the streets this Saturday to protest the lack of an R18+ rating for video games in Australia
Left 4 R18+ Rally organizer Nick ‘Enigma’ Gipson is asking people to raise awareness in a non-violent way and while he is expecting a good turnout this Saturday he is hoping for this rally to pave the way for even bigger ones later on.
Protesters are being asked to hand out this flier and to make these 4 demands on the day:
Remove Michael Atkinson from the R18+ decision!
Release the R18+ discussion paper!
Let the public vote for whether or not the R18+ should be brought in!
Make Attorneys-General decisions pass with a majority vote rather than an unanimous one!
The rally will be held at each states Attorney-General office. It will begin on Saturday the 21st of November at 11am and finish at 5pm.
Photo obtained from http://www.whatabigcamera.com/
Zombies lurched through Sydney during the weekend to protest the lack of an R18+ rating for video games in Australia. The lurch was organized by Gamers for a proper ratings system in Aus, one of the many facebook groups advocating the introduction of the rating.
Earlier this year a R18 “Cosplay for a Cause” Rally that was being organized by Gametraders was canceled amid concerns that the cosplay component would mean the rally would not be taken seriously. You can read more at The Escapist.
The Zombie Lurch was also mentioned on Radio SkidRow this evening during The Rack. A weekly show airing on Mondays 6-7pm. The same show that Aaron was interviewed on last week. Thanks to the host Peta for giving our cause some attention!
Those who missed out can still attend the Left 4 R18+ Rally scheduled for this coming Saturday the 21st of November. This rally will take place at locations in every state. For further details click here.
We have just been informed via a Facebook message that Nick ‘Enigma’ Gipson who is organizing a nationwide R18+for games rally has received a reply to an email he sent to Margaret Pomeranz.
Dear Nick,
I would very much like to have supported you in the protest but unfortunately I am committed elsewhere on that day. Can I ask why you’re doing it on a Saturday? AG’s are unlikely to be in their offices. I imagine it’s because you are all working but surely a lunch-time protest would mean more people around, including AG’s. I have the Annual General Meeting of Watch on Censorship coming up this weekend and I’ll bring the matter up with them, see if there’s anything we can do. The hard head on this is the South Australian AG Michael Atkinson. I believe all the other states voted in favour of an R-rating for video games, based on the report recommendations of the OFLC. Bob Debus was the AG of NSW then. He’s now in Federal Parliament and I believe retiring at the next election. He may be worthwhile contacting before he goes, he knows the system and may be able to give you advice. But while one AG has the power of veto it’s going to be a long hard road to achieve anything. The frustrating thing is being in a position where one state – South Australia – has the power to determine the situation for all of Australia. Not democratic at all.
I wish you luck. I think you have right on your side.
I’ll be in touch if WoC can do anything to help. Just sorry I can’t on the day.
Regards,
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz was also recently interviewed by Byteside.
Thanks to all the people that sent their emails and letters last Monday the 9th. If you wern’t able to send your email or letter at that time, you can still do so now and help advocate our cause!
If you need help writing a letter you can copy and paste the template found here: http://www.r18games.com.au/help/
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