The Australian games-development industry is growing at a fast pace, with more than 40 development companies and 1,600 employees locally. The industry is worth more than A$110 million per annum, but the Game Developers' Association of Australia (GDAA)--the peak body representing local dev houses such as Tantalus, Auran, Krome, and more--thinks that amount can be larger. Much larger. The GDAA has in recent months been asking the federal government for a helping hand. Specifically, the GDAA is asking for the same 40 percent rebate that was introduced to help the Australian film industry. The GDAA says government support will result in an additional A$25 million in new investment into Australian-developed games.
Just before the election was called, the federal government--through Communication, Information Technology, and the Arts minister Senator Helen Coonan--essentially rebuffed the industry by saying that game developers would "not be eligible for the tax offsets" introduced for the film industry. But with the federal election now called, has the government changed its tune? And what would Labor do if it was in power? Here's the question we sent to both the Coalition and Labor:
The Games Developers' Association of Australia (GDAA) has recently been campaigning for more government assistance for the local industry. Specifically, they have asked for a 40 percent rebate introduced in this year's budget for the Australian film industry to be extended to the Australian video games development sector. What is your official stance on introducing this rebate for the games industry? In what other ways will a future Coalition/Labor government support the Australian games industry?
The Coalition: Minister for the Arts and Sport George Brandis
A spokesman for Minister Brandis replied to GameSpot AU with the following: "Minister Brandis indicated that were the Government to be re-elected, he would give consideration to their request in the new Parliament." The GDAA confirmed the federal government's revised stance on the 40 percent rebate, and GDAA CEO Greg Bondar said: "Senator Brandis was most sympathetic to our concerns and also undertook to ensure that a review of GDAA's call for a 40 percent tax rebate for the games industry in Australia would be undertaken if the Coalition was returned to government."
Labor Party: Shadow Minister for Communications and Information Technology Senator Stephen Conroy
"Labor has announced that they will work with the games industry in Australia, and recommends that the Game Developers' Association of Australia has a seat at the table at the review of the 40 percent tax rebate which has been afforded to the film industry.
"Labor recognises the contribution the games industry makes to the Australian cultural landscape, and the economy as a whole, and is keen to continue to work with the games industry to encourage growth of this important sector."
The GameSpot AU Party
The GameSpot AU Party will do everything in its power to support the local industry. This will include introducing a rebate--bumped up to 70 percent--for all games developed locally. To take the next step, the GameSpot AU Party will invest more than A$20 billion in an "IP hunt," during which we will buy the gaming world's biggest and brightest franchises and give them to newly cashed-up and resource-rich Australian dev houses. Imagine it--Grand Theft Auto: Brisvegas by Krome Studios, or Halo 4: Re-Finish the Fight by IR Gurus. Plus, every person working in the Australian games industry will be allowed to park their cars in disabled parking spots and not be fined. They will also get lifetime memberships to the sporting team of their choice--either that, or a lifetime supply of soft drinks and pizza vouchers for those late-night prelaunch crunch sessions to get the game out the door in time.
What are your thoughts on how the elections could help or hurt games in Australia? Leave us a comment and let us know!
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