SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM CORPORATION

In reply to Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (5 April 2012).

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts): I am advised:

1. The South Australian Film Corporation was required, through its funding agreement, to provide a copy of its audited annual report to Arts SA by 30 September 2011. The Film Corporation notified Arts SA at this time that due to the timing of the audit by the Auditor Generals Department, this deadline would not be met. The draft wording of the annual report was noted at the Corporation's Board meeting in August 2011 and the audited statements were approved by the Board in late December 2011. The report was finalised by the Film Corporation to ensure that it was in the required format for tabling in Parliament, and was forwarded to the Board for approval on 26 March 2012 and provided to Arts SA on 28 March 2012.

2. The South Australian Film Corporation aims to develop opportunities for the creation of work by South Australian film makers, and in addition, strives to find mechanisms for this work to find an audience. The grant to the ABC, referred to in the annual report, is for a documentary initiative entitled The Factory, which involves the Film Corporation matching a $1.1 million commitment of cash and in kind resources by the ABC with its industry development grant funds. This two year partnership provides the opportunity for two six-part documentaries to be produced and aired each year. The series currently in production are Croc College and Road to London. Although there are opportunities for documentary makers to produce and air 'one–off' documentaries, this initiative is particularly beneficial as it provides the opportunity for local documentary producers to utilise the skills and support of the ABC and work on a series over an extended timeframe, rather than on individual projects.