The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Call for comment on government support for film

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today called on film industry professionals and other interested parties to respond to a review examining the effectiveness and appropriateness of government funding support for Australian film production.

“This review will take a broad‑ranging look at the effectiveness of current Australian Government direct and indirect support, including taxation incentives, for the film industry,” Senator Kemp said.

“The Australian Government has a strong record of support for our film sector and this review will provide options on the best and most effective ways of targeting that support in the future.

“Today I am releasing an Issues Paper that details the way members of the public can make submissions to this review. I am encouraging all interested stakeholders to take up this important opportunity to comment on the most appropriate mix of Government support for the film industry.

“The purpose of the review is to improve the long term viability and effectiveness of the Australian film industry to help it grow and prosper,” Senator Kemp said.

The review, which was announced in the 2006–07 Federal Budget, will outline the Government’s policy objectives for the Australian film industry, analyse the state of the industry and examine the support measures for funding films and the structures that underpin them.

A major focus of the review will be the very low and declining level of private sector investment in the industry and it will develop possible options for improving the effectiveness of tax incentives and other Government support measures.

Future funding for the film industry will be considered in the light of the outcomes of this review.

The findings of the current review of the 10BA and 10B tax incentive schemes, which is examining issues relating to clarity of the schemes’ operations, will inform this broader review.

Visit www.dcita.gov.au/arts_culture/consultation_and_submissions/film_industry_reviews to view the Issues Paper for the Review of Australian Government Film Funding Support.

The closing date for submissions to the review is Friday 11 August 2006.

MELBOURNE

12 July 2006