South Australian Film Industry

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on the increasing activity within the screen industry here in South Australia?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:38): I can and I will. I thank the member for Heysen for his interest in the screen sector here in South Australia. The Liberal government's huge announcement on Tuesday—and it was a big announcement—was that the South Australian Film Corporation has secured the production of the movie Mortal Kombat. Just to refresh your memory, Mr Speaker, $70 million has been invested in South Australia. There are 600 jobs and—the thing I am most excited about—1,500 extras. I was one as a teenager. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anybody. Of 1,500 comments on the 'Tiser Facebook page, every second comment was an inquiry about how to be an extra in Mortal Kombat. But I digress.

I am excited to announce today that a new TV drama will begin production in South Australia. It is a six-part series called Stateless and it will be produced at the Adelaide Studios at Glenside. Filming will commence next month. It will star a multi award-winning cast, including Yvonne Strahovski; Jai Courtney; Asher Keddie, famous for her roles in Paper Giants and Offspring;Fayssal Bazzi; Dominic West; and Cate Blanchett, who is also part of the co-creating team.

Stateless is financed with the support of the ABC and the South Australian Film Corporation. It will be distributed—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —by NBCUniversal to be viewed by audiences worldwide. It is another international production by the Adelaide Film Corporation. It is another significant gain for the South Australian film and production industry right here, right now in South Australia, which is expanding at a rapid rate as the state's reputation as a world-class screen production hub gains further recognition. The South Australian film industry contributed a record $119.5 million to the state's economy in the last financial year.

Mortal Kombat and Stateless are both exciting announcements and they highlight the importance of the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to support the creative arts as an industry that is delivering exciting career opportunities for South Australians, and young South Australians in particular. Young South Australians can stay in South Australia and have exciting careers without having to move to Sydney, Melbourne or overseas.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Of course, they are producing terrific opportunities right around the state, whilst enabling the screen sector to update technologies and techniques to keep pace with a rapidly changing international industry.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The Chief Executive of the South Australian Film Corporation, Courtney Gibson, said she was pleased to be supporting the development of a landmark series, featuring an all-female writing and directing team. Full production and post production will occur at the Adelaide Studios and locations around South Australia.