Australian Federal Budget 2022-2023 Components for Program 6.1: Arts and Cultural Development

The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts

Dear Minister,

We write to you as the professional association for screen studies scholars in Australia and New Zealand to urge you to reconsider the reduction of funding to Screen Australia and the Arts industries proposed in the recent federal Budget. The work of SSAAANZ members contributes to cultural understandings of how film, television and other screen media influence how people view and relate to the world around them, shape national identity, and contribute to local and global economies. Our research supports evidence-based industry, policy, and community responses to the rapid transformation of the screen industries in Australia and globally with the rise of streaming services.

The screen industries make a valuable contribution to the Australian economy each year. In pre- Covid 2019, Australians spent over US$861 million at the box office. Last year, even with various state lockdowns, The Dry took US$13 million at the box office, and the Australian-made Peter Rabbit 2 took US$22 million. Australia’s screen industries each draw from a range of trained professionals across the field of creative arts that feed into a global industry. Screen industries are proven to provide strong economic returns and ongoing employment for thousands of Australians. Australian-made screen content contributes to the enormous benefits of social exchange that come with the storytelling process as seen in examples such as the massive international success of the children’s’ TV series ‘Bluey’ and its ability to communicate universal values based on empathy and respect.

Investment in the film industry makes economic sense. Targeted investment in the NZ film industry, for instance, has seen immense commercial success with films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, earning box office of almost US$3 billion from production costs of less than US$300 million. The Power of the Dog recently won international acclaim, including a Best Director Oscar for its Australian-based director, and has won another 250 film awards across the globe (IMDb) and attracted global audiences both in cinemas and through online streaming.

Our concern is that the reduction of funding impacts Australia’s screen industries and their reputation as promising co-production partners. The regular stream of film and TV co- productions with the UK, NZ, Canada, France and Singapore relies on government funding that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the partner nation. Without this funding, filmmakers will look elsewhere for support and films/TV programs simply will not get made here.

The Screen Australia Act 2008 lists among its functions:

1. a) support and promote the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable Australian screen production industry

b) (i) the development, production, promotion and distribution of Australian programs

c) support and promote the development of screen culture in Australia

Each of these functions requires meaningful fiscal support that encourages screen production here in Australia. As an association of scholars whose focus is on screen industries, the content they produce and the social impact of screen products, we implore that if the Coalition is re- elected that you reconsider funding reductions to Screen Australia and restrictive funding to other screen and arts bodies where funding either drops or (in real terms) fails to keep up with inflationary or CPI pressures. Investment in screen industries is an investment in the cultural soul of our nation. The global impact of Australian storytelling through films and TV programs ranging from Crocodile Dundee to Red Dog, from co-productions like ‘Top of the Lake’ through to ‘Bluey’ is immense.

Sincerely,

Assoc. Prof. Peter C. Pugsley (President) and SSAAANZ Executive

Committee: Dr Jessica Balanzategui

Dr Davinia Thornley

Dr Claire Henry

Dr Kirsten Stevens

Dr Pansy Duncan

Mr Max Bledstein