By sjj_admin 
Originally published on GameOnAus.com in Jan 2023
The Australian Government today launched a new national cultural policy, Revive. This five-year $286 million plan aims to renew Australia’s arts, entertainment, and cultural sector. As part of this, the Federal Government has announced the re-establishment of the Australian Interactive Games Fund.
In the launch broadcast through YouTube Live, Arts Minister Tony Burke heralded its return. “All forms of storytellers now, whether it’s narrative, visual art, music, acting are finding themselves jobs in the video game industry,” said Mr Burke. “Screen Australia, when you’ve got an industry expanding like this around the world, shouldn’t be left trying to check if there’s some spare change in the back of the lounge to fund this rapidly growing $4 billion sector. So we’ll restore the games fund for Screen Australia that was abolished nearly 10 years ago.”
Not much is known about how Revive will impact the renewal of the Australian Interactive Games Fund. The original $20 million fund was launched in 2013 with the aim to help local game developers grow and create their own titles. The following year it was abandoned with only half of its funding spent. Reports from that time indicate that Screen Australia was able to support 10 companies and 29 projects in the short time the fund was active.
It is also currently unknown if this announcement will affect the Digital Games Tax Offset or Screen Australia’s Games: Expansion Pack.
Research cited in the Revive policy states that two thirds of Australians play video games (not a surprise to us at GOA). It also states that in 2021-22, Australian game developers generated $284.4 million in revenue and employed 2,104 full time workers.
The bulk of the $286 million Revive policy will go to the creation of Creative Australia. This independent agency house found new bodies, Music Australia, Writers Australia, Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces and a First Nations led body to aid in the protection of First Nations artists. Of particular interest to game developers may be the Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces, which is focused on workplace safety in the arts, as well as combating bullying and harassment.