Statement 1: Budget Overview (Continued)
A creative nation is a productive nation
The Government values the role creativity plays in Australian society and the ongoing contribution made by the cultural sector to the economy. The national cultural policy for the next decade, Creative Australia, will deliver the arts, cultural heritage and creative industries with the vision and strategy to sustain the nation's creative excellence in the 21st Century.
The Government will provide:
- $75.3 million in the Australia Council for the Arts which will enable it to undertake necessary structural reforms, providing additional support for arts organisations;
- additional funding of $30.2 million to support Australia's elite training organisations and Major Performing Arts companies;
- $11.3 million in additional funding to strengthen professional development of Indigenous art workers and centres. A further $14.0 million will enable the expansion of the Indigenous Languages Support program to ensure the maintenance, revival and transmission of Australian Indigenous languages;
- $40.0 million from the Regional Development Australia Fund, to leverage an additional $100.0 million in partnership funding between government and the private sector. Funding of $8.6 million to Creative Partnerships Australia will further encourage private sector support for the Arts, contributing to the long‑term sustainability of Australia's creative sector;
- $21.1 million for traineeships, vocational training, representation at community cultural events, skills development in secondary schools and business grants;
- $41.6 million to attract major international film productions to Australia. This includes a $21.6 million grant provided to The Walt Disney Studios' upcoming filming of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo in Australia, which is expected to encourage significant new investment and job growth in the local film industry; and
- $10.0 million for the nation's screen production industry, as well as $5.4 million to assist community broadcasting.
Australia's national broadcasters
The Government recognises the significant contribution that Australia's national broadcasters — the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Corporation — make to informing and entertaining millions of Australians every day.
Australia's media landscape is evolving and the Government remains committed to adequately funding the national broadcasters, ensuring that they are able to continue to deliver quality content across all technology platforms.
The 2013‑14 Budget will provide $129.4 million over five years in additional funding to the national broadcasters. This funding will enable the ABC to continue to improve its news and current affairs programming and enhance its online digital content. This funding will also enable the SBS to maintain the quality of existing services and support its continued acquisition of local content. Furthermore, the Government will provide the ABC with a $90.0 million loan for a new office in Melbourne, enabling it to consolidate its Melbourne operations in one site and achieve significant operational savings. These measures build on commitments the Government made in its 2012‑13 Budget.
The Government is continuing to provide appropriate base funding to the national broadcasters. This Budget provides base funding of $568.7 million to the SBS and $2.5 billion to the ABC, over three years from 2013‑14.
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