- Latest funding boost for Western Australia's growing screen
industry to deliver $31.9 million in investment over the next four years
- $13.2 million in 2024-25 State Budget for a Screen Industry
Workforce Development Plan and initiatives to turn WA into an international
screen production destination
- Screen Production Facility to become epicentre of
creativity, activity and job creation
- Cook Labor Government investing in creative industries to
grow local productions, attract more projects and diversify the State's economy
The Cook Government will
invest $31.9 million over four years to implement a new screen industry
strategy as part of its economic diversification plans, with initiatives that grow
the local screen industry and establish Western Australia as a major
international and national screen production destination.
The State Government's vision for the future of the industry is outlined in the WA
Screen Industry Strategy, which provides a roadmap to coordinate and guide
activities in support of the State's screen industry over the next 10 years,
creating new local jobs.
Outlining four strategic pillars and eight key
initiatives, the strategy aims to grow the economic and cultural benefits derived
from the industry, and align it with the State's economic development framework,
Diversify WA.
A key focus of the strategy is to implement a new
workforce development plan that will allocate $11.2 million over four years to
enhance local production skills and capabilities, and bolster the local screen
industry workforce production capacity in readiness for the completion of WA's new
Screen Production Facility.
The Cook Government has already committed $233.5
million for the construction of the new Screen Production Facility near the
Malaga METRONET Station Precinct. Construction is now underway and expected to
be completed by 2026.
An additional $2 million over two years will extend
the pilot Digital Games and Interactive Fund, which is delivered through
Screenwest. The fund provides support to WA digital games and immersive
technology companies and creatives to develop and release high-quality, diverse
and engaging digital games.
This funding comes on top of the $18.7 million
recently announced to finance the attraction of major productions to WA,
promote the State nationally and internationally as a production location and
expand local industry capacity to support the growing demand for production.
The Government has also provided further support
for Screenwest with blockbuster funding of $9.2 million in Lotterywest grants
for 2023/24 - an increase of $1.5 million compared to the previous year.
In 2023, a total of 41 film,
television, digital games and post-digital and visual effects projects
commenced production in WA, and this year is shaping up to be even busier.
Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"The Government believes show business is good
business - that's why we are investing heavily in the screen industry in WA to
support local production, grow creative employment, attract public and private
investment, diversify our economy, and showcase our great State as an
attractive tourism destination.
"We want to create new highly skilled jobs across the
State, and ensure WA's screen workforce is world-class, thriving, and ready for
the increased opportunities the State Government's commitments will bring.
"The WA
Screen Industry Strategy will help attract Commonwealth incentives and
investment to the State as WA becomes a place where international productions
of a high quality are produced and WA stories are created to be shared with the
world."
