- 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.
As stated by 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.”
