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.
A WORLD CLASS AUSTRALIAN FILM INDUSTRY
Australia has every reason to be proud of its film and television industry. Our actors and directors are internationally renowned. Our facilities and infrastructure are world class. We have highly skilled casts and crews and state of the art facilities and services for the visual effects and post production industry.
Local production and private investment in the film industry, however, is at low levels. This is why we are pleased to announce today a package of measures to build on our strengths and address current issues in the sector to ensure the long-term future of our film industry.
The focus of the film industry package will be on increasing the quality and audience appeal of the Australian product. This will include better script development and greater market focus. These measures will help to entice our top actors and film makers back to Australia to work.
The package will:
- continue funding for AusFILM, Australia's film and location marketing organisation;
- address a loss of investor confidence and leverage greater private sector support for the industry through an extension of the FLIC Scheme and a review of key taxation provisions;
- boost the quality of our films through assistance to the Australian Film Commission to develop better scripts and support for first time film makers;
- provide additional funding to the Film Finance Corporation to invest in an annual slate of higher budget, commercially competitive feature films and children's and adult television drama;
- position the industry for the challenges of the digital age by providing funding to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School to deliver digital interactive and multiplatform production courses and establish a national Screen Business Skills Centre;
- showcase Australian film to domestic, including rural and regional Australia, and international audiences through screen culture initiatives; and
- commission Film Australia to produce a 10-part series of high quality documentaries on Australia's history.
This package will provide a significant boost to the film sector and assist us to regain our position as a world leader in independent film. This package, worth about $87 million over the next four years, provides a plan for the sector and is in addition to the $136 million in funding support that the Australian Government is providing to the film and television industry in 2004-05.
By contrast, the Labor alternative presents no strategy for the film sector and uncertainty surrounds its funding package beyond the current financial year.
SYDNEY
4 October 2004
Media contact: Adrian Chippindale, 02 6277 7350 or 0407 208 743