Melbourne, Wednesday 14 November 2007. Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne, at Tantalus Studios in Melbourne, today announced that the Greens would work to ensure that Australian interactive games developers received the same support that our film industry receives via a production tax offset.
Senator Milne said "Australians are rightly proud of our film industry and are happy to see governments supporting the industry, helping it grow and compete in the world market.
"Given the tremendous popularity of interactive computer games, Australia's games developers would doubtless receive the same community support if only Australians knew how successful they are becoming on the world stage."
In an extremely competitive international market, Australian games developers are pitted against developers in America, Asia and Europe who receive significant government support through tax credits or similar benefits. Without being able to offer the same benefits to investors, Australian games developers are missing opportunities such as developing games for Australian made movies including The Matrix and Happy Feet.
This policy would simply apply to games developers a 40% production tax offset for expenditure in Australia, such as is offered to the film industry. It is estimated to cost in the order or $5 million a year initially, which, it is hoped, would stimulate some $20 million of investment and much more in export earnings. The funding would be additional to the offset for the film industry, and would not reduce their level of support.
Supporting games developers with this tax offset would allow the industry to employ more people and grow to the point where it can begin owning its own intellectual property, rather than being a service provider for global entertainment giants.
"The interactive games development industry is an excellent example of an innovative, smart industry that Australia should be encouraging, while moving away from the old economic paradigm of 'dig it up, cut it down and ship it overseas'."
Tom Crago, GDAA President: “We are delighted to have the support of the Australian Greens. We approached them at the same time that we approached the Labor and Liberal parties, and since then the Greens have carefully considered our claim to the tax offset. The support they have offered today exceeds that offered by the major parties, and is testimony to the fact that the Australian Greens recognise the true potential of the interactive games industry as an important part of Australia’s smart economy. All Australian gamers should know that the Greens are in their corner.”
The policy can be downloaded at the following link...
1. Anonymous Thu, 15 Nov
i think it's utterly ludicrous that the rebate hasn't been approved for the games industry already - unless they are satisfied with us being an outsource post doomed to be steamrolled by China/India, then i think it's well within everyone's interests to see more original IPs establish Australia as a contender in the industry. Let's not just gift wrap ALL our talent for those companies abroad eh?
I mean, how many good Australian films are out there and making money as a comparative to the many games that are shipped out from here every year?
/ rant
Yeah I think it's ridiculous too.
Like you said China & India will take all the licences for games. & our companies & or companies based here will die out in like 6 months. All because of no support in developing in new IP.
The liberal's think as long as we have job's that's ok. They once again dont see the future. Liberal's also think letting Americans film here & use our facilities means those movies are Australian WTF. Gess were all the mony go's "AMERICA"
holy cow you also new were the money gose how did you know that!
Me fail english? thats unpossible!
Just like that tax off shore thing for digital media isn't it? Invest in Australian companies to do all of America's digital effects but a day will come when china will say. Hay come here & do it it's cheaper.
Has any one seen the ad vote one for green. Just think of all those people that just go 12345 lol.
Now onto a more serious topic. It seem's every one but the devilish liberal's are aware of the Aussie games industry does it not? I think when labour is in power (or green's but unlikely) for a couple of years. We will look back at our struggle & say we have don it we have survived the evil howard years with our industry in tact. Then we will all go to the bar & get piss'd together yay :)
Howard is just a geriatric who doesn't understand the digital realm. He even refuses to talk on FM radio.
Massive fail.
Why doesn't he go on FM radio? Is it because he is a teenager from.........well let's just say it was a long time ago. Apparently aboriginal's painted picture's of him some 30.000 years ago.