Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) a significant number of video game development companies have recently experienced financial difficulties with their Australian operations,

(ii) this has led to a substantial loss of jobs and companies exiting the country,

(iii) the industry has been further negatively affected by the Abbott Government's decision to close the Australian Interactive Games Fund just 12 months after it was established, and

(iv) comparable countries such as Canada have seen a rapid expansion of their video game development industry over the same time frame; and

(b) the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 April 2016:

The future of Australia's video game development industry, with particular reference to:

(i) how Australia can best set regulatory and taxation frameworks that will allow the local video game development industry to grow and fully meet its potential as a substantial employer,

(ii) how Australia can attract video game companies to set up development operations in Australia and employ local staff,

(iii) how export opportunities from Australia's local video game industry can be maximised, and

(iv) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.