Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (12:09): My constituency question is directed to the Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Regulatory Reform, Minister for Government Services and Minister for Creative Industries, the Honourable Danny Pearson. My question relates to the minister’s portfolio responsibility of creative industries. Victoria is the nation’s creative capital, and the Andrews Labor government is cementing our reputation as the creative state with an unprecedented $288 million investment in its 2021–22 Victorian budget to reinvigorate the creative economy. To help the sector bounce back after a challenging year, the $167.3 million creative industries funding package is expected to underpin the creation of more than 20,000 new jobs across the entire creative sector. The creative industries funding package is in addition to the $120.7 million screen industry package and the 40,000 jobs set to be created through the Vicscreen strategy. My question to the minister is: can the minister provide an update on how constituents from the Western Metropolitan Region will benefit from this creative funding package?
Reply:
Thank you for your question. Victorians from the Western Metropolitan Region will benefit from the unprecedented $288 million investment in the creative industries in a variety of ways.
Creative practitioners and organisations from the Western Metropolitan Region will be able to apply for a range of upcoming state-wide support programs which are currently under development. In addition, all residents of the West will benefit from the infrastructure and creative activity the funds will support.
Whether that’s by visiting a blockbuster exhibition, participating in events, attending a gig or seeing a film—there will be multiple avenues for constituents to engage in our creative state as the package is rolled out over the next four years.
The $167.3 million Creative State funding package will support the sector as it recovers, adapts and rebuilds from the impacts of the pandemic, through our next Creative State strategy. This will include new funding opportunities for creative enterprises of all sizes through new multi-year investment programs, career-making support for individual Victorian creatives through programs like the Creators Fund, opportunities for the music sector through an extension of the Music Works initiative, and support for existing and emerging creative neighbourhoods though supporting affordable and accessible spaces for creative people and businesses to thrive.
Specific funding will support the future of Scienceworks in Spotswood. Funding of $1.1 million will be provided for the development of a business case, with a view towards reinvigorating this popular family attraction and building its reputation as a world-class science museum.
We will be launching the full Creative State strategy soon, and I look forward to sharing more detail of the actions and the subsequent rollout of programs and opportunities.
We are also investing a record amount in our screen industry, including new funding of $120.7 million, through our new VICSCREEN strategy. This will supercharge Victoria’s industry and help Victoria’s screen businesses capitalise on the global boom in demand for quality screen content.
The new Melbourne Screen Hub in Yarraville is just one way we are supporting local screen businesses. This industry-led hub is now home to more than 30 screen industry tenants including grips, gaffers, catering, camera, lighting, props, stunts and costumes.
VICSCREEN will help attract more local and international productions to film in Victoria, creating jobs and benefiting local businesses. The Western Metropolitan region has been the location for productions such as Wentworth, Jack Irish season two, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries season three, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Winchester which have contributed over $106 million to the local economy. We’re working every day to create more opportunities just like this.
We are committed to rebuilding our creative economy, supported by this $288 million funding package which stands to create 60,000 jobs in Victoria across our creative industries.