Australian Attorney-General and enemy of gamers everywhere Michael Atkinson resigned his post today following a poor result at the polls for the Australian Labor party.
Australian gamers can breathe a sigh of relief today as Michael Atkinson, the man single-handedly responsible for preventing the creation of an R18+ rating for videogames in the country, has stepped down from his position as Attorney-General of South Australia.
Atkinson claimed it would be irresponsible to create a by-election with the Australian Labor Party’s majority standing at just one. He also cited a desire to see his son Johnno play soccer as another reason for his retirement from front-line politics.
“[Johnno] was supposed to play his first game last night at 7pm and like so many times in my time in Parliament I wasn’t there,” said Atkinson. “I am pretty disappointed about that. So I resolved that every time Johnno walks on the pitch this year his dad is going to be there even if it embarrasses the hell out of him.”
Atkinson will stay in parliament until the next election in 2014, but will serve as a back-bencher, saying: “I think there ought to be renewal in the ministry. I think there are talented people on the Labor backbench who deserve a go.”
This is significant news for Australian gamers, who have long had to suffer under a system that lacked an adult rating for videogames, and potentially will bring Australia in line with other countries, provided that Atkinson’s replacement is sympathetic to the gamers’ plight.
Thank you to everyone who sent tips in about this, there are too many of you to name individually, but you know who you are.
