Online, mobile games a step closer to ditching Aussie ratings

Last month the federal government introduced legislation to temporarily abandon the requirement for all mobile and online games to be classified in Australia.

The Classification (Publications, Films, and Computer Games) Amendment (Mobile and Online Computer Games) Bill was introduced in parliament by Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor in response to the government's ongoing review of the national classification scheme, which is currently being conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission.

The bill has since passed in the House of Representatives, according to Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor's office. It is now in the Senate.

When introducing the bill to parliament, O'Connor said it would be a way of dealing with the increasing number of mobile and online games released and will provide clarity for both the local games industry and the community about the regulation of mobile and online games.

Industry bodies will still be able to submit mobile and online games to the Classification Board of Australia for classification but will not commit an offence if they do not. Previously, according to the unamended Classification (Publications, Films, and Computer Games) Act, all video games released in Australia required a classification. The act did not make any distinction among console, mobile, and online games.

The government has proposed the amendment should last for the next two years.