Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down

Posted Mar 21, 2010 at 11:08AM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: PSP, Wii, PS3, MMORPG, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC Gaming, iPhone Tags: Australia, michael atkinson

Australian gamers are overjoyed with the latest development in their crusade for an R18+ rating - the man who stood in their way is leaving his post. Earlier today, Attorney-General Michael Atkinson suprised everyone with his announcement that he is stepping down, leaving his seat vacant for "talented people on the Labor backbench."

Atkinson is more commonly known in the gaming news for his refusal to allow an R18+ rating for video games, the absence of which is pretty much a blanket-banhammer for games that would have received the classification in Australia. As a result, he has been the target of "criminal defamation", as he put it, as well as threats from those he believed are from the gaming community.

It got so bad that an internet-censorship plan during the state elections was considered, requiring blog comments to have a full name and an address. He later backflipped and went on the repeal.

His successor has yet to be named, but with him stepping down, the Australian gaming community is hoping that his successor will be more open to hearing their stand. "I believe there should be renewal," he said. "I think there ought to be renewal in the ministry. I think there are talented people on the Labor backbench who deserve a go."

[via Adelaide Now]

100% of voters think this story ROCKS!

Vote Now!

(22)

(0)

I think we need younger people (younger people who demonstrate ability) to go into some of the world's major politics and decision-making groups.. Times are changing faster than ever and honestly, teenagers and people in their 20s know more about what's going on today on a lower level than they do..

# RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — Liam Riordan 2010-03-21 14:10

Yahtzee will rejoice, as will the international gaming community.

As said above, the 'Old Guard' leaders of the world while, charismatic and experienced in the field of politics, there needs to be new blood playing a bigger part since they're more adaptable to the world and technology available to them.

# RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — jjcobra 2010-03-21 15:24

Hooray, Australia's Mussolini has stepped down. Now we just need to hope thar an even worse guy doesn't step into power.

# RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — Guest 2010-03-21 16:20

Too bad all the articles on this are failing to mention that while he will step down, he plans to do so in 2014, which is still a way off

# Oh no....... — KingPepper 2010-03-21 19:03

Quoting Jim35:

Too bad all the articles on this are failing to mention that while he will step down, he plans to do so in 2014, which is still a way off

By the time 2014 is here, gaming will be banned full stop. not just 18+ games, if he carries on.

+1 # RE: RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — Spike 2010-03-21 23:09

Quoting Jim35:

Too bad all the articles on this are failing to mention that while he will step down, he plans to do so in 2014, which is still a way off

I chased around a few other articles on his departure, and while he'll continue to hold his seat in Croydon, he IS stepping down in the capacity of Attorney-General (SA).

As the collective AG's are responsible for this decision, it will no longer be his to influence/enforce.

We're not out of the woods yet, but I think I'm definitely seeing an end to this debacle, hopefully in the relatively near future (next AG's meeting is in late April, but knowing how governments work in general, we're unlikely to see it pushed through by then).

Perhaps next time. Thank God this news didn't come out Thursday-Week (ie: April Fools Day)

# RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — Guest 2010-03-21 17:23

Lol... I find it funny that the voting has "protection" for him while it's really just a whole lot of people voicing their opinion. Isn't that what "voting" is all about? Who ever is on the community's favor wins. He clearly wasn't on a lot of people's favor... and there are actions taken against people voicing their thoughts? lulwut?

# no - it wasn't just peoples opinion. — TPot 2010-03-22 02:15

He was receiving personal ransom note style threats.

# YAY — Guest 2010-03-21 18:30

very pleasing news indeed, no more having to import something you want

+2 # RE: Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down — Guest 2010-03-21 22:04

He did that just for a trolling, but actually he wants to get his hands on Dead or Alive: Paradise, so he stepped down to avoid being obvious. XDDD

# Left - or Pushed. — TPot 2010-03-22 02:17

One quite possible aspect is that he has been asked to move on by the party to allow the internet filtering an easier transition. One of the arguments against the filtering is that it would legitimately block normal sites like QJ because they discuss games that have been refused classification.

# about time — senz 2010-03-22 13:25

Now hope gaming in Australia is heads down the right path, all is left is the insane pricing of the games, where Australians pay 40-50% more for a game compared to Americans (eg.COD:MW2)

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 05/28/2012

RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012
J-Runner v0.2 Beta 275	05/19/2012
Priiloader 0.8 Beta 3	05/19/2012
Quake Rev PAK release 4	05/19/2012

Most Comments this Month
Sound Off: On Game Expirat..	(57)
EA Blames iOS Rock Band Ex..	(28)
Say Goodbye to the Xbox 36..	(27)
Flash0 Contents Of Vita's..	(27)
Sony Had a Rough Year; Vit..	(26)
PlayStation 3: Now Featuri..	(22)
Sound Off: Toughest Game C..	(20)
Apparently You Can Pre-Ord..	(19)
Love It or Hate It, It's A..	(16)
You've Been Up in Arms Abo..	(15)
Pre-Order Generic Shooter..	(15)
PoV: This Collectors Editi..	(14)
Get Off Xbox Live, You Ped..	(14)
This is Next Gen?	(14)
PoV: Paid MMOs are Dead	(14)
Metal Gear Solid For Vita..	(14)
Stop Your Whining, Start C..	(13)
PoV: You Are Wrong about C..	(13)
Pokemon Liquid Crystal! K..	(12)
OK, So Maybe Microsoft Can..	(12)
Does Microsoft Ever Have a..	(12)
Operation Raccoon City Pro..	(12)
Diablo III Getting Mauled..	(12)
Blizzard is Really Sorry a..	(11)
Update: EA Drops Free BF3..	(11)

Top Jumps this Month
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(160)
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(96)
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(86)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(86)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(63)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(50)
Wii homebrew - WAD M..	(49)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx P..	(42)
Hellcat Working On R..	(40)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(40)
PSP homebrew - DSonP..	(38)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(36)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(33)
Sound Off: On Game E..	(32)
Latest Left 4 Dead 2..	(30)
Another CFW Goodie F..	(29)
GTA IV patch 1.0.6.0..	(29)
Download full Sid Me..	(28)
Soywiz Releases PSP..	(27)
Sound Off: Should Ap..	(27)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(23)
Metal Gear Solid For..	(21)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(20)
DS homebrew game - S..	(20)
Brian Lara Internati..	(20)

HOT GAMING NEWS TOPICS

Quick Jump Daily Digest

Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson steps down

Related Stories:

Comments

Add comment

Newest Downloads