❓ Mr. Castrilli asks about the significance of the MOU between Bunbury, the South West Development Commission, and a Chinese animation studio. Mr. Redman highlights the potential economic benefits for Bunbury and the South West region, including job creation and training opportunities.
AnsweredQoN 873Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VUE GROUP,
BUNBURY — MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
873. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Regional Development:
It was a pleasure to welcome the minister to my electorate
last month to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding between
the City of Bunbury, the South West Development Commission and a major Chinese
animation studio. Can the minister please explain to the house the significance
of that event, and what it will mean for the future of Bunbury?
BUNBURY — MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
873. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Regional Development:
It was a pleasure to welcome the minister to my electorate
last month to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding between
the City of Bunbury, the South West Development Commission and a major Chinese
animation studio. Can the minister please explain to the house the significance
of that event, and what it will mean for the future of Bunbury?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for the question. Was it not
fantastic to be down south in the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, which
was built by this government? It was fantastic to be able to witness an
absolutely momentous occasion—that is, the signing of an MOU between a
number of parties, including Vue Group based in Bunbury, Shanghai Hippo
Animation Design Co out of China, and the South West Development Commission.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Of
course the MOU is also supported by the City of Bunbury. It is essentially a commitment
on behalf of all parties to facilitate the construction of a major new
animation studio and training facility in Bunbury. Vue Group was originally
based in Melbourne and chose to move to Bunbury for a number of reasons that I
will go into in a second. Alan Lindsay is the managing director of Vue Group
and he brings a lot of skills and technology to the table to support the
Shanghai Hippo group, which has the largest animation studios in China and
already has deals locked in worth about $160 million. Also at the signing was
the CEO of the Shanghai Hippo group, Kerr Xu, who is touted as the next Walt
Disney. That is probably a big call to make, but the animated-movie market in
China has about 18 000 cinema screens and more are opening at the rate of 25 per
day. We therefore should not underestimate the potential of the Chinese film–industry
market and indeed the opportunities for Western Australia. The Hippo–Vue
joint venture has already produced two animated feature films in Bunbury, and
of course it is on the basis of doing a lot more that the joint venture wants
to make an investment in Bunbury to support the facilities.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Mr
Xu told the event that he plans to make eight films a year, which will require
some 200 animators in Bunbury and he also wants to develop a training facility
to train up to 300 people a year, including locals and people from China. Why
Bunbury, Mr Speaker? It is in the same time zone, it has a wealth of local
talent, the seasons are offset—they are actually reversed—and
of course it is also a beautiful place to live. It is pleasing to see the very
strong support from the member for Bunbury. I also make the point that the ''South
West Regional Blueprint'' for economic and social development highlights
the creative industries as a potential opportunity. This MOU is the starting
point for what could be a significant economic industry for the south west of
Western Australia, and we look forward to bigger things to come.
fantastic to be down south in the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, which
was built by this government? It was fantastic to be able to witness an
absolutely momentous occasion—that is, the signing of an MOU between a
number of parties, including Vue Group based in Bunbury, Shanghai Hippo
Animation Design Co out of China, and the South West Development Commission.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Of
course the MOU is also supported by the City of Bunbury. It is essentially a commitment
on behalf of all parties to facilitate the construction of a major new
animation studio and training facility in Bunbury. Vue Group was originally
based in Melbourne and chose to move to Bunbury for a number of reasons that I
will go into in a second. Alan Lindsay is the managing director of Vue Group
and he brings a lot of skills and technology to the table to support the
Shanghai Hippo group, which has the largest animation studios in China and
already has deals locked in worth about $160 million. Also at the signing was
the CEO of the Shanghai Hippo group, Kerr Xu, who is touted as the next Walt
Disney. That is probably a big call to make, but the animated-movie market in
China has about 18 000 cinema screens and more are opening at the rate of 25 per
day. We therefore should not underestimate the potential of the Chinese film–industry
market and indeed the opportunities for Western Australia. The Hippo–Vue
joint venture has already produced two animated feature films in Bunbury, and
of course it is on the basis of doing a lot more that the joint venture wants
to make an investment in Bunbury to support the facilities.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Mr
Xu told the event that he plans to make eight films a year, which will require
some 200 animators in Bunbury and he also wants to develop a training facility
to train up to 300 people a year, including locals and people from China. Why
Bunbury, Mr Speaker? It is in the same time zone, it has a wealth of local
talent, the seasons are offset—they are actually reversed—and
of course it is also a beautiful place to live. It is pleasing to see the very
strong support from the member for Bunbury. I also make the point that the ''South
West Regional Blueprint'' for economic and social development highlights
the creative industries as a potential opportunity. This MOU is the starting
point for what could be a significant economic industry for the south west of
Western Australia, and we look forward to bigger things to come.
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