Aussie Film Critic Voices Support For R18+ Rating

02 Oct 2009 at 11:13:14 by Andy Alderson

Australian film critic Margaret Pomeranz has criticised the system of video game censorship in Australia.

Earlier in the week we reported that South Australian attorney general Michael Atkinson had voiced his opposition to introducing an 18+ adult rating for video games in Australia. Currently, the highest rating a game can be awarded is MA 15+ meaning many adult-oriented titles - like Left 4 Dead 2 - are refused a rating by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC).

In a video interview with Byteside, Pomeranz came out in support of an R18+ rating and criticised Atkinson’s stance on the issue.

“The problem lies with the legislation because you require a unanimity of attorneys general,” said Pomeranz.

“You have Michael Atkinson in South Australia who is representing the most conservative view on this in all of Australia.

“He was the only one standing out against an R18 rating for games,” she added.

“So you have one attorney general calling the shots for all of Australia.”

Pomeranz, a film critic on ABC’s At the Movies, is famously critical of censorship and has spoken out against the policies of the OFLC on numerous occasions. 

“I think that anybody ought to be very frightened of a government who thinks they know what’s good for you, culturally,” she told Byteside.

Comment