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The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) passed legislation to legalize the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games last night.
The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) passed legislation to legalize the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games last night.
The rating was first passed at a Federal level back in June and subsequently required each state to pass its own legislation to determine how the guidelines would be implemented at a state level. The Australian Capital Territory was the first to pass state-level legislation, with NSW following behind.
The NSW Attorney-General, Greg Smith, said: "This is a victory for adult gamers and a victory for parents who want to protect their children from computer games with unsuitable content.
"Minors should be protected from material that is likely to harm or disturb them."
The new classification guidelines for video games take effect on January 1st, 2013. All Australian states and territories are expected to have passed their own legislation before the deadline.