❓ Mr. Jones questions the Minister about the Perth film studios and screen investment strategy. The Minister responds positively, highlighting the project's progress, economic diversification, job creation, and tourism benefits.
AnsweredQoN 383Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY — FUNDING
383. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to diversify the Western Australian economy
through the establishment of new industries.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the delivery of the new $233 million Perth film studios?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the film studios, supported by this government's
screen investment strategy, will bring new investment to WA and create new
local jobs?
383. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to diversify the Western Australian economy
through the establishment of new industries.
(1) Can the minister update the
house on the delivery of the new $233 million Perth film studios?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the film studios, supported by this government's
screen investment strategy, will bring new investment to WA and create new
local jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
can and I will. I also acknowledge that the member mentioned to me earlier
today that in his electorate the Roleystone Theatre has its production of The
Addams Family at the end of the month.
A member : Is the member in
it? Is he starring?
Mr H.T. Jones : I am not
Uncle Fester!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There is a
Lurch on the other side, but I will not mention who that might be. I thank the
member for the question. This is very important. As members know, we are on the
great journey of delivering a world-class
film studio in Malaga, and it is currently under construction. It will include
a suite of sound stages and appropriate additional facilities that will see us
able to attract a raft of productions going forward into the future. It is a very specific and very purpose-focused
initiative by the Cook Labor government. As the Treasurer highlighted earlier , it is very much focused on the ongoing
diversification of the economy of Western Australia, because we recognise there
is continuing burgeoning interest in and opportunities for Western Australians
in the creative industries.
I only recently launched the Western
Australian screen industry strategy 2024–2034 . A key
component is the workforce development component of some $11 million over the
next four years, which is focused on building the pipeline of workers required
when being involved in any film screen activity. It very much speaks to our
training institutions, including those the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development oversees through our TAFEs and the Western Australian Academy of
Performing Arts at the university level. It ensures that the message is very
clear to any young person in Western Australia who seeks to be part of the
creative industries, particularly if it involves screen or gaming, that we are
building the infrastructure, have the screen strategy and are funding it. I thank
the Treasurer again for understanding that this needs to be funded and the
record amount of funding that has been provided by the Treasurer in the last
budget. I want to highlight that, as it includes $11.2 million for the
development of the workforce development plan and an additional $14.4 million
for the production attraction incentive fund. That fund specifically talks to
those who seek to come to Western Australia to be involved and engaged in film
production.
We have seen some huge successes,
many of those in the regions. Very soon, in July, we will see the production of The Twelve , which includes Sam Neill, filmed in Western Australia,
including in Perth and the wheatbelt in York. It will be the largest production
of its type to be filmed in Western Australia. We will see more and more of
these. Why? It is because we are putting in place the infrastructure and
funding that infrastructure through the screen strategy, and we are funding
that infrastructure through the production attraction incentive fund. We are also doing more than that, because we are focused
on making sure that this is all about team WA. The activity in this industry has broad influence across a range of other portfolios including, of
course, the tourism portfolio. When people,
only three weeks ago, at the Cannes Film Festival saw The Surfer with
Nicolas Cage, which was filmed in the south west near Yallingup, it
highlighted and promoted the Western Australian tourism story, and thereby
encouraged people to come to beautiful Western Australia. When people see that
film, they see the majesty of the south west landscapes and ocean scapes, if
you like. It continues to highlight why Western Australia is punching above its
weight in attracting a whole range of activity into the future.
This Labor government is very future
focused. We are putting the investment in place, whether in tourism, in the
screen industry or the cultural and arts industries, because we recognise that
that will place us very, very well when we
are being looked at from abroad. Producers and directors around the world are
now looking to Western Australia because they know we will have a film
studio in place, and they want to come and film here. That means that if any
young person—a number of young people were sitting in Madam Speaker's
gallery earlier today—has a bent towards being involved in the
creative, film or gaming industries, they will know that this government and
only this government has a clear plan and strategy to move forward for the
creative industries. I applaud the Treasurer, the
Premier and all those on this side of the house for their understanding of how
important this is. With a $233 million investment
in Malaga, and the additional money to support the industry, this is a game
changer for Western Australia. I am
so pleased that the member supports it. Of course, if a film comes up that
needs a sea captain–type person, the member for Darling Range
would be a perfect captain. He could even go for the captain of the Titanic, because he looks similar to him, but I will not go into that. It is great
news. I thank the member for asking the question. Please keep asking them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
The member for Cottesloe with the last question.
can and I will. I also acknowledge that the member mentioned to me earlier
today that in his electorate the Roleystone Theatre has its production of The
Addams Family at the end of the month.
A member : Is the member in
it? Is he starring?
Mr H.T. Jones : I am not
Uncle Fester!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There is a
Lurch on the other side, but I will not mention who that might be. I thank the
member for the question. This is very important. As members know, we are on the
great journey of delivering a world-class
film studio in Malaga, and it is currently under construction. It will include
a suite of sound stages and appropriate additional facilities that will see us
able to attract a raft of productions going forward into the future. It is a very specific and very purpose-focused
initiative by the Cook Labor government. As the Treasurer highlighted earlier , it is very much focused on the ongoing
diversification of the economy of Western Australia, because we recognise there
is continuing burgeoning interest in and opportunities for Western Australians
in the creative industries.
I only recently launched the Western
Australian screen industry strategy 2024–2034 . A key
component is the workforce development component of some $11 million over the
next four years, which is focused on building the pipeline of workers required
when being involved in any film screen activity. It very much speaks to our
training institutions, including those the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development oversees through our TAFEs and the Western Australian Academy of
Performing Arts at the university level. It ensures that the message is very
clear to any young person in Western Australia who seeks to be part of the
creative industries, particularly if it involves screen or gaming, that we are
building the infrastructure, have the screen strategy and are funding it. I thank
the Treasurer again for understanding that this needs to be funded and the
record amount of funding that has been provided by the Treasurer in the last
budget. I want to highlight that, as it includes $11.2 million for the
development of the workforce development plan and an additional $14.4 million
for the production attraction incentive fund. That fund specifically talks to
those who seek to come to Western Australia to be involved and engaged in film
production.
We have seen some huge successes,
many of those in the regions. Very soon, in July, we will see the production of The Twelve , which includes Sam Neill, filmed in Western Australia,
including in Perth and the wheatbelt in York. It will be the largest production
of its type to be filmed in Western Australia. We will see more and more of
these. Why? It is because we are putting in place the infrastructure and
funding that infrastructure through the screen strategy, and we are funding
that infrastructure through the production attraction incentive fund. We are also doing more than that, because we are focused
on making sure that this is all about team WA. The activity in this industry has broad influence across a range of other portfolios including, of
course, the tourism portfolio. When people,
only three weeks ago, at the Cannes Film Festival saw The Surfer with
Nicolas Cage, which was filmed in the south west near Yallingup, it
highlighted and promoted the Western Australian tourism story, and thereby
encouraged people to come to beautiful Western Australia. When people see that
film, they see the majesty of the south west landscapes and ocean scapes, if
you like. It continues to highlight why Western Australia is punching above its
weight in attracting a whole range of activity into the future.
This Labor government is very future
focused. We are putting the investment in place, whether in tourism, in the
screen industry or the cultural and arts industries, because we recognise that
that will place us very, very well when we
are being looked at from abroad. Producers and directors around the world are
now looking to Western Australia because they know we will have a film
studio in place, and they want to come and film here. That means that if any
young person—a number of young people were sitting in Madam Speaker's
gallery earlier today—has a bent towards being involved in the
creative, film or gaming industries, they will know that this government and
only this government has a clear plan and strategy to move forward for the
creative industries. I applaud the Treasurer, the
Premier and all those on this side of the house for their understanding of how
important this is. With a $233 million investment
in Malaga, and the additional money to support the industry, this is a game
changer for Western Australia. I am
so pleased that the member supports it. Of course, if a film comes up that
needs a sea captain–type person, the member for Darling Range
would be a perfect captain. He could even go for the captain of the Titanic, because he looks similar to him, but I will not go into that. It is great
news. I thank the member for asking the question. Please keep asking them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
The member for Cottesloe with the last question.
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