Aussie Senate to launch inquiry into local video game industry

Some positive news for the local video game industry today with the Australian Greens managing to secure a senate inquiry into the state of the Australian development scenes.

Australian Greens deputy leader and communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam was moved in senate today allowing the inquiry to begin.

“Five years ago, Australia had a bourgeoning video game development sector employing thousands of talented people in this rapidly growing industry.

“Internationally, companies have experienced strong growth thanks to smart government support and favourable regulatory settings.

“In Australia, no such luck: the sector has been treated like the poor cousin of the creative industries, culminating in the Abbott Government’s decision to close the $20 million Australian Interactive Games Fund, just 12 months after it was established”.

The inquiry will look into what the Australian government should be doing to support the Australian game industry. What employment opportunities, economic and creative benefits it can bring to Australia.

“The inquiry will begin accepting submissions in the coming days, with public hearings to be held in the near future. I look forward to working with the Committee to do what we can to help get the industry back on its feet,”  Senator Ludlam said in a press release.

It will be some time before we hear back what inquiry has to stay, the  Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications will report back in April next year. Public hearings will be announced shortly.

Once upon a time in Australia there were thousands employed here making video games, some for the largest of video game publishers. Now unless you’re an indie developer you’re chances for employment in Australia are slim and moving off-shore is the only option you have. Maybe this could swing back things in our favour, eventually.