Michael Atkinson, Australian politician, is the current South Australian Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the Rann Government. He also represents the electoral district of Croydon in the South Australian House of Assembly and is a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Biography

Atkinson attended Glenelg Primary School and Unley High School. He then studied at the Australian National University and received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), majoring in History and a Bachelor of Laws.

He worked as a sub-editor and journalist for the Adelaide Advertiser between 1982 and 1985, an advisor to federal Minister Chris Hurford, and an advocate for the shopworkers' union. A founding member of the Labor Unity faction of the Australian Labor Party, Atkinson was first elected to Parliament in the 1989 state election and was a shadow minister before Labor won government in 2002 when he became Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. In a minor cabinet reshuffle in 2004, Atkinson lost his portfolio for consumer affairs. Following the death of Terry Roberts he became Minister for Correctional Services in 2006.

He was reelected in the 2006 election to the seat of Croydon with a two-party preferred vote of 76 percent.

He is seen as a mentor to younger members of Parliament, particularly those within the right faction, and has a particular interest in world history and Christian values. He is married to Joan, with whom he has four children: Hugh, Bridget, John and Christopher.

Controversy

He has been involved in two controversies, the 'stashed cash' affair,^[1] and allegations concerning former Labor MP Ralph Clarke and government staffer Randall Ashbourne.^[2]

Atkinson is responsible for maintaining Australia's status as the only Western country without a "Mature" rating for video games,^[3] despite overwhelming demand for such a rating. ^[4] Due to this, Atkinson is often at the receiving end of criticism from the international Video Gaming community. Other related consequences include the sale of what are rated "Mature" games in other countries to minors and repeated inconsistent decisions from the OFLC who are "stuck between a rock and a hard place". ^[5] He has withdrawn his support for a discussion paper and public consultation on the subject of an "R18+" rating, although the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General still has this issue on its agenda, it is improbable that there will be unanimity which will result in introduction of the rating being almost impossible.^[6]

Australia's current rating system lacks a classification for games above MA15+.^[7] It therefore lacks not only an equivalent rating to the ESRB's "AO" (Adults Only) but also an equivalent to the ESRB's "Mature" (17+) rating^[7]

References

External links

• ALP biography
• Parliament Profile
• Ministerial biography
• Poll Bludger electorate profile - Ashbourne Affair