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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Wednesday, 3 March 2004) . . Page.. 708 ..

Video games

MR CORNWELL (6.41): I am pleased that Mr Quinlan, the Minister for Economic Development, is here, because I wanted to comment—

Mr Quinlan: I’m not paying a lot of attention, though, Greg.

MR CORNWELL: Pardon?

Mr Quinlan: I’m just on duty; I’m not paying a lot of attention.

MR CORNWELL: That is all right. I just wanted to refer to a comment in the Canberra Times on 20 February, where Mr Quinlan officiated at a function launching the second phase of development by Braddon company, Irrational Games Australia, of a video game. The creator of the best-selling video game Freedom Force is to embark on a major expansion of its Canberra facilities. It has sold 350,000 units worldwide since its release in 2002. This is an excellent company, set up here in Canberra, and I would certainly commend them, as I am sure my colleagues do. However, I fear I should warn them because they are currently working on a new game, Freedom Force vs The Third Reich. This is fine, because we know exactly—

Mr Stefaniak: Do they have a bill of rights?

MR CORNWELL: Thank you, Mr Stefaniak; I am concerned about the bill of rights in this respect, but I am also not too worried about it because the Third Reich, after all, were baddies. We all know that they were baddies. I am, however, extremely concerned if they decide to launch a second one, “Freedom Force vs Saddam Hussein and the Republican Guard”, because I suspect that some members of this Assembly will take offence. The Chief Minister, for example, was offended by the war in Iraq. He is not going to tolerate an ACT company putting out such a video game, and I suspect that the Greens and the Democrats will be horrified. Nevertheless, before the next private members’ day when we will have a plethora of motions attacking these things coming forward, I would just like to say that, in spite of the fact that I presume Freedom Force vs The Third Reich is going to be some sort of violent game that again would not meet with the support of the pacifists in this place, I would like to commend Irrational Games Australia, an ACT company, and wish them well for the future.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Assembly adjourned at 6.44 pm.

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