UPDATE: Electronic Arts has issued the following statement regarding Syndicate's refusal of classification in Australia:

It’s regrettable that government policy in Australia is denying adults the right to play Syndicate. The game will be not be available in Australia despite its enthusiastic response from fans. We were encouraged by the government’s recent agreement to adopt an 18+ age rating for games. We urge policy makers to take swift action to implement an updated policy that reflects today’s market and gives its millions of adult consumers the right to make their own content choices.

ORIGINAL: Electronic Arts’ reboot of Syndicate has been refused classification in Australia, ruling out its distribution across the Tasman.

A search of the Australian Classification Database reveals that the game has been refused a rating, but gives no reason.

There is no equivalent of New Zealand's R18 rating in Australia. The Australian rating system for games ends at MA15+. Recent attempts to introduce a rating equivalent to R18 have been met with resistance by conservative legislators.

Electronic Arts has confirmed to Gameplanet that Syndicate will be released in New Zealand with an R18 rating.

We recently went hands on with Syndicate in Sydney.