Online internet petitions. In a lot of cases, they don't make a lick of difference. This, however, could lead up to something more than just hot air and wasted internet space seeing as it's on the Queensland Government website.
This E-Petition, currently open at www.parliament.qld.gov.au is calling for the Queensland government to permit an R rating for games classification. It's currently sitting at 3185 signatures, but who knows, with a lot more people signing some support for this petition, the powers that be might sit up and notice and get something happening...
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that the Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995 is currently out of step with the wishes of the electorate.Your petitioners, therefore, request the House that it be amended to permit computer games to receive the R18+ classification when they have been refused classification under the Commonwealth Act.
Posting Date: 17/11/2009
Closing Date: 08/02/2010
You're got three months to sign your support, so if you have a few minutes to spare, and you're a Queenslander, why not sign it? Click on the following link to the E-petition page and sign up! Oh, and the image is courtesy of Gamespy.
Other States?
Does anyone know of similar petitions in other states, Im in NSW, and although i could sign it, i dont think that that would be appropriate.
Is there any point to this? I
Is there any point to this? I thought it was a federal issue.
It first has to be raised at
It first has to be raised at a state level before anything will be done at a federal level.
Current Queensland E-petitions
Just checking out the current open E-Petitions on there... wow, Queenslanders really don't want that 20% vehicle registration increase, do they XD.
The ratings petition is slightly behind the second placed petition to stop mining in Steve Irwin's wildlife reserve, but I was expecting to see the numbers that the top petition is getting.
Gamers4Croydon
Guys, if you actually want to make a difference, visit Gamers4Croydon. The founder is legitimately aiming to run against Michael Atkinson in the 2010 electorate for Croydon. He's not just making another petition.
Yes. He's actually doing something.
www.gamers4croydon.org
Of course
There is another article dedicated to such things posted not so long ago. While Gamers4Croydon is an interesting concept, I doubt it will actually achieve anything.
As for the petition, it is possible it may be effective. I am unsure, but Queensland may be able to classify games that are not classified under the federal system. The federal system does not ban the game in Australia, it simply refuses to classify games containing certain material. If Queensland can classify these games, for Queensland only, then they would be legal for sale in Queensland. This doesn't address the overarching problem, of course, but it's a step in the right direction and a hell of a lot better than meaningless complaints and symbolism.