The Australian Senate has released its report into the future of the country’s video game development industry.
Titled “Game on: More than playing around”, you can download and read the report here.
The 86-page report is summarised with a listing of recommendations; chief among them, that the Australian Government “introduce a funding scheme based on the former Australian Interactive Games Fund,” a $20 million AUD funding scheme that was abolished by the Abbott government just 12 months after it was established.
The report also recognises the collaborate industry space known as The Arcade in Melbourne, and recommends that the Australian Government work to establish similar shared working spaces in other Australian cities.
“Establishing a replacement for the AIGF will assist small independent studios to grow into flourishing ongoing enterprises. This is just one of the recommendations the report makes, but it’s the most immediate step the government can take for this industry,” said Senator Scott Ludman, Greens’ Communications Spokesperson.
“There is not a Turnbull buzzword box that the games industry does not tick. These are some of the creative industry jobs of the 21st Century. The Liberal party should overturn the short-sighted decision to axe the original AIGF.
“Government should do all it can to give the industry a jump start, in the form of grants, low-interest installment loans and tax offsets to foster the growth of a local industry, and to ensure that local talent stays local.
“In this partisan and politically charged environment, and in an election year, the fact that this is a consensus report says a great deal about the quality of evidence presented, the good faith that both witnesses and senators brought to the proceedings, and the clarity of the conclusions the process reached.
“We’ll be taking these recommendations forward after the election, and we hope the Labor and Liberal parties do as well. The opportunity for Australia to establish itself as a global leader in this industry is not going to last forever.”
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