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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-05-14 Daily Xml
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South Australian Film Industry

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:08): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on the importance of the screen industry to South Australia's economy?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:08): Yes, I can, and I thank the member for Morphett for his interest in films. He lives in the picture-perfect electorate. I understand why he is interested in films. The Marshall Liberal government is growing creative industries to create job opportunities here in South Australia. In particular, the screen industry is of vital importance. International research has established that jobs in the screen industry are growing at twice the rate of the industry average. This is good news for South Australia—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

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

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: It is good news because we have invested in the screen industry; we have invested in the creative industries in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: And, according to a report released last week by Deloitte Access Economics, the South Australian screen industry has contributed $119.5 million to the state's economy in the past financial year.

This year, already the Adelaide studios at Glenside have produced Escape from Pretoria—remember, that was the one with Daniel Radcliffe—and Never Too Late with Dennis Waterman, Jack Thompson and Jacki Weaver. Some of the more senior members would remember the work of Dennis Waterman in particular. Also, 18 projects have been completed in the past financial year, including the international film features I Am Mother and Storm Boy, all shot here in South Australia.

I have a significant announcement today: an historic movie deal for South Australia. The South Australian Film Corporation has secured the production of the movie Mortal Kombat, which will be shot in the South Australian Film Corporation's studios at Glenside. It has been talked about for years, but it is happening here in South Australia at the end of the week. At the end of the week. they are starting work on pre-production.

The video game has sold 35 million units around the world over the past two decades. It will be transformed into a movie blockbuster as the biggest film production in South Australia's history, and I am also advised, bigger than anything that Victoria has even been able to pull off, and we have done this by utilising the state's creative film industry talent—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and selling it to Hollywood. It's no good having a talent here if the world doesn't know about it, and that is what we have been doing.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: This is a fantastic opportunity. It will add $70 million to the local economy and create 580 skilled jobs in those fast-growing creative industries. It will employ up to 1,500 South Australians as movie extras. There might be some in this room who might have a crack at that. You know what they say—politics is Hollywood for ugly people!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The Warner Bros New Line Cinema deal will see pre-production start at the end of this week and then production by the end of the year. It will involve world-renowned Australian filmmakers Simon McQuoid as director and James Wan, who was the producer of Aquaman, utilising world-class crews, acting talent and post-production to take place in the state's visual effects and post-production facilities.

A mission to Hollywood earlier this year involving the film industry delegation led by Premier Steven Marshall contributed to the signing of this lucrative and highly successful deal because we were out there selling South Australia. It is so important that the rest of the world knows what we have here and what is for sale, and we were very pleased to make this important announcement, which highlights the importance of the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to support the creative arts as an industry that delivers exciting new careers for young South Australians.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Wright and Reynell, the Premier, the member for Mawson and the member for West Torrens; and the member for West Torrens has the call.

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