Arts Minister Simon Crean on boosting local industry

Federal Arts Minister Simon Crean spoke about the importance of tax breaks and incentives to push the local games development industry.

In an interview with GameSpot, Mr Crean said: "We have a lot of creative talent in Australia in the games development field and are in an excellent position to capitalize on the growth that is expected in this industry in the future."

"It's important that this highly skilled creative workforce stay in Australia to further our economy and build sustainable businesses."

It is interesting that one of the games industry's most outspoken supporters at a federal level still makes a few misnomers about what gaming actually is, though, referring to the games industry as the 'interactive arm of the film industry', and using the number of games industry professionals who listed their occupation in the 2007 census as 'artists and animators' as proof that the medium itself is artistic.

That said, the huge support for funding and growing local talent Mr Crean is putting forward is very welcome, and bodes well for the raft of encouraging new measures being taken by Screen Australia and numerous other bodies to help grow local independent developers and put Australian game development back on the map.

Mr Crean concludes by saying: "There are social benefits of arts and culture and economic benefits that come from creativity and innovation. Games development represents both of these. One of the drivers of the National Cultural Policy is the need to be proactive in the digital environment and identify the role of government for the creative industries, including game developers."

You can read the full interview on GameSpot here.

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