We support strong protections that prevent children from accessing material that is inappropriate for them. However, protecting children should not require unnecessarily restricting the choices, privacy or lawful activities of Australian adults.

Since 2013, Australia's R18+ classification has recognized a fundamental principle: content inappropriate for children should not be banned for adults. Yet today, outdated guidelines still force developers into regional censorship or total Refused Classification (RC) bans. Australian adults deserve access to the same lawful, uncensored entertainment available in comparable democracies. The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) recognizes medical marijuana, so why are games getting banned for having drug use in them?

Simultaneously, incoming digital age-assurance rules must not compromise adult privacy. Protecting children online shouldn't require Australians to surrender government ID or submit to invasive digital tracking. Age verification should simply establish whether someone meets an age threshold—not monitor or log what legal content an adult accesses.

We are calling on the Australian Government to modernize our classification and online safety laws to protect young people while respecting adult privacy and personal choice.

Key Demands:
Overhaul RC Thresholds: Review R18+ boundaries so mature games receive age ratings instead of outright prohibition or forced edits.

Guarantee Strong Data Privacy: Require age-checking systems to minimize data collection, ban identity retention, and protect against tracking.

Separate Protection from Restriction: Ensure policy restricts adult material from children rather than unnecessarily restricting adults.

This petition highlights the urgent need to update Australia’s classification and age-assurance frameworks to reflect modern digital realities. While the R18+ computer game rating was introduced in 2013, outdated guidelines still lead to unnecessary Refused Classification (RC) bans and regional censorship for lawful adult content. Furthermore, emerging age-assurance requirements must protect children without compromising adult privacy or data security.

Review Classification Guidelines: Conduct a comprehensive review of R18+ and RC boundaries, ensuring content restricted to informed adults is classified R18+ rather than outright prohibited, granting Australians equal access to versions sold in comparable nations.
Implement Privacy-Preserving Age Assurance: Ensure age-checking laws are proportionate, minimize data collection, prevent unnecessary identity retention, and guard against digital tracking, misuse, and security breaches.

Protect Adult Autonomy: Establish a consistent principle across classification and online safety: restrict adult material from children rather than restricting adults from lawful content.
Australia can safeguard young people online while respecting the privacy, rights, and autonomy of adult citizens.

Protect children. Respect adults. Modernize the system. Sign today!