❓ The WA parliamentary question concerns the Cook Labor government's investment in the film and screen sector through the WA production attraction incentive. The Minister outlines the program's success in attracting high-profile productions, creating local jobs, and boosting the WA economy.
AnsweredQoN 134Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FILM AND TELEVISION
INDUSTRY — FUNDING
134. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy through the creation
of new opportunities.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the establishment of the WA production
attraction incentive will support the growth of WA's film and screen
sector?
(2) Can the minister advise the how this incentive
will create more local jobs in WA's film production industry?
INDUSTRY — FUNDING
134. Dr K. STRATTON to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to diversifying the Western Australian economy through the creation
of new opportunities.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the establishment of the WA production
attraction incentive will support the growth of WA's film and screen
sector?
(2) Can the minister advise the how this incentive
will create more local jobs in WA's film production industry?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Hello, Clarise! Yes, I want to answer that
question. First of all, I want to give a shout-out to our magnificent Perth Lynx team that will go into combat on Thursday evening. If Perth Lynx
win, it will bring home the women's national basketball title for Western
Australia. We are right behind Perth Lynx and hope the team can prevail on
Thursday night. We wish Perth Lynx the very best.
I am glad the member for Nedlands
asked this question and I thank her for her support of the film industry in Western
Australia. It is an industry that no other government like this government has
invested in so heavily and so effectively over the last six and a half to seven
years. We recognise that the screen industry in Western Australia is
effectively a new manufacturing industry. It is about manufacturing stories,
many of which are local, and opportunities for employment. When films are
filmed in the regions, it supports other industries in that particular
community because of the activity taking place there. We have already established a $20 million Western Australian
production attraction incentive program to attract high-profile productions to the state. I will go through a couple
of those to remind members of just how successful that program has
already been.
Recently,
as part of the midyear review, another $18.72 million was invested to focus on
attracting major productions to Western Australia, supporting and
marketing Western Australia as a film industry destination, nationally and
internationally, and boosting local industry capacity. All of this is happening
while construction has commenced on our film production facility in Malaga. Show
business is good business for Western Australia. There is no doubt about that.
The screen industry is one investment that will pay huge dividends now and into
the future for Western Australia for those who are involved in the creative
industries and for those young people who are studying in schools now and
aspire to be involved in the creative industries going forward. This is a critical
investment.
The
member asked about jobs and the sort of productions that have been attracted.
Season two of The Twelve starring
Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor has been filmed particularly in regional
Western Australia in York. That has wrapped up and that series will
premiere very shortly, again, showcasing the Western Australian backdrop.
Earlier this year, Nicholas Cage was in Western Australia in the south west
filming The Surfer . I understand that is going to be a blockbuster when
it comes out. Again, the backdrop has been the magnificence of Western Australia's
south west.
When film production comes to a community
such as Derby, which was lucky enough to have Population: 11 filmed
there, the community embraces it. It supports local businesses, be they
restaurants, accommodation providers, carpenters or electricians; they are all
part of the mix. When film production arrives in town, they are all involved,
and local businesses are one of the biggest beneficiaries. We have seen this
excitement in communities, whether it be Derby, Broome, Yallingup or the
goldfields with the Mystery Road series, which was filmed there only a year
or so ago. These things make a difference to those local communities. They are
very proud of them.
Last Sunday—I will be very
quick, Speaker, because I know you want me to wind up—I was very
pleased to go to the Stan Original Productions' premiere of Population:
11 , which was filmed in Derby with international actor Ben Feldman and
Australian director Ben Young. That community is holding their premiere of Population:
11 tomorrow night and I know that they are going to be absolutely excited
to see that premiere in their community. At the Stan event, so many in the
industry were highlighting how the talk of the town is Perth and WA. The talk
of the town across the world is wanting to come here and film, whether it be
documentaries, series or feature films, and they are focusing on Western Australia
because they know we are building our production facility and they also know
that this government is absolutely committed to supporting the industry with a long
pipeline of work to come.
Member for Nedlands, look at me when
I am talking to you! I am really excited about this and I know she is too, and
so should all Western Australians. To those young men and women who are at
school now, whether it be primary or high school, who aspire to be an actor or
actress or a person involved in directing or production, know that we are
delivering an industry for now and into the future. It is a very important
investment in the creative industries going forward. Thank you for the
question.
question. First of all, I want to give a shout-out to our magnificent Perth Lynx team that will go into combat on Thursday evening. If Perth Lynx
win, it will bring home the women's national basketball title for Western
Australia. We are right behind Perth Lynx and hope the team can prevail on
Thursday night. We wish Perth Lynx the very best.
I am glad the member for Nedlands
asked this question and I thank her for her support of the film industry in Western
Australia. It is an industry that no other government like this government has
invested in so heavily and so effectively over the last six and a half to seven
years. We recognise that the screen industry in Western Australia is
effectively a new manufacturing industry. It is about manufacturing stories,
many of which are local, and opportunities for employment. When films are
filmed in the regions, it supports other industries in that particular
community because of the activity taking place there. We have already established a $20 million Western Australian
production attraction incentive program to attract high-profile productions to the state. I will go through a couple
of those to remind members of just how successful that program has
already been.
Recently,
as part of the midyear review, another $18.72 million was invested to focus on
attracting major productions to Western Australia, supporting and
marketing Western Australia as a film industry destination, nationally and
internationally, and boosting local industry capacity. All of this is happening
while construction has commenced on our film production facility in Malaga. Show
business is good business for Western Australia. There is no doubt about that.
The screen industry is one investment that will pay huge dividends now and into
the future for Western Australia for those who are involved in the creative
industries and for those young people who are studying in schools now and
aspire to be involved in the creative industries going forward. This is a critical
investment.
The
member asked about jobs and the sort of productions that have been attracted.
Season two of The Twelve starring
Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor has been filmed particularly in regional
Western Australia in York. That has wrapped up and that series will
premiere very shortly, again, showcasing the Western Australian backdrop.
Earlier this year, Nicholas Cage was in Western Australia in the south west
filming The Surfer . I understand that is going to be a blockbuster when
it comes out. Again, the backdrop has been the magnificence of Western Australia's
south west.
When film production comes to a community
such as Derby, which was lucky enough to have Population: 11 filmed
there, the community embraces it. It supports local businesses, be they
restaurants, accommodation providers, carpenters or electricians; they are all
part of the mix. When film production arrives in town, they are all involved,
and local businesses are one of the biggest beneficiaries. We have seen this
excitement in communities, whether it be Derby, Broome, Yallingup or the
goldfields with the Mystery Road series, which was filmed there only a year
or so ago. These things make a difference to those local communities. They are
very proud of them.
Last Sunday—I will be very
quick, Speaker, because I know you want me to wind up—I was very
pleased to go to the Stan Original Productions' premiere of Population:
11 , which was filmed in Derby with international actor Ben Feldman and
Australian director Ben Young. That community is holding their premiere of Population:
11 tomorrow night and I know that they are going to be absolutely excited
to see that premiere in their community. At the Stan event, so many in the
industry were highlighting how the talk of the town is Perth and WA. The talk
of the town across the world is wanting to come here and film, whether it be
documentaries, series or feature films, and they are focusing on Western Australia
because they know we are building our production facility and they also know
that this government is absolutely committed to supporting the industry with a long
pipeline of work to come.
Member for Nedlands, look at me when
I am talking to you! I am really excited about this and I know she is too, and
so should all Western Australians. To those young men and women who are at
school now, whether it be primary or high school, who aspire to be an actor or
actress or a person involved in directing or production, know that we are
delivering an industry for now and into the future. It is a very important
investment in the creative industries going forward. Thank you for the
question.
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