Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to Rob Fisher, a much loved member of the screen production industry who passed away last month. I knew Rob through his work with Film Australia. Rob was on the board of Film Australia for six years from 1998, mostly as its chair. Rob and I had much contact regarding Film Australia. I found him to be a highly intelligent and committed person. Above all, Rob was a very decent man. I never had any dealings with him that were not marked by his professionalism and his courtesy.

Rob was a chartered accountant by profession. He entered the screen industry in the early 1980s, looking after the business affairs as the general manager of McElroy and McElroy. Rob Fisher was the founder of the First Australian Completion Bond Company, one of Australia’s leading completion guarantors. Perceiving a gap in the market, he established the FACB in 1990 and, within a few years, the FACB began grabbing a significant market share within Australia. By the year 2000, the company easily had more than 50 per cent of the market.

Rob also pushed into New Zealand, where FACB is now the predominant completion guarantor. FACB has underwritten more than $800 million worth of production in Australia and New Zealand. It has also made strong inroads into Asia, becoming the first completion guarantor to set up in Japan and having a representative presence in Hong Kong.

A memorial service was held for Rob Fisher on Monday, 15 May at the chapel of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. A number of very moving tributes were paid to him by friends and family. Among the mourners were Jan Chapman, George Negus, Bill Bennett, Joan Scott, Tim Burstall, Hal, Di and Jim McElroy, Ian Robertson and Nigel Milan.

The industry also recognised Rob’s contribution with sentiments such as these from Sandy George, writing in the Australian newspaper:

THE Australian film industry is grieving after the death of Rob Fisher, whose financial support ensured more than half the Australian films made since 1990 got to the screen.

               …            …            …

In business he was respected for his straight talking, his team-based approach and his unobtrusive thoroughness.

He seemed to be at every industry event and to know everyone there; the best dinner, with the best food and wine, would always be the one he had organised.

Film Australia hosted a film and TV industry memorial reception on 8 June, and around 100 people heard humorous and touching short speeches from people such as the former CEO, Sharon Connolly, film journalist Blake Murdoch, producer Hal McElroy, producer Rosemary Blight, producer Charles Hannah, Ausfilm chair Ian Robertson, Rob Fisher’s business partner Corrie Soeterboek and Rob’s wife, Janelle. There were messages also from Eve Mahlab, the former deputy chair at Film Australia; David Hannay, film-maker; and Donald McDonald, the ABC chairman. The speeches paid tribute to a good friend and colleague, acknowledging his experience, financial skills, industry knowledge, generosity, passion, discretion, support and good humour.

Rob is survived by his wife, Janelle, their children, Paul and Lizzie, and two children from his first marriage, Stewart and Llona. The Australian government joins with so many others in recognising the great contribution of Rob Fisher to the Australian film industry.