The R18+ legislation still needs to be passed through the Senate before it can be introduced nationally at the start of 2013, but it also needs to pass through each state and territory to ensure it conforms with their individual laws. The ACT should be the first to complete that process.
"The ACT will be the first jurisdiction to progress a bill giving effect to the Commonwealth's decision to implement the R18+ category in Australia," ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell told the ABC.
Mr. Corbell has been a strong supporter of the R18+ video games rating for some time, and believes it will allow for better regulation of games content.
"This is part of a national reform that will allow adult gamers to view R18+ material in the same way that can already be done for film and printed material," he said.
"But at the same time it will also provide protection to parents and children by giving parents better guidance about what material is and is not appropriate for people under the age of 18."