Response to public consultation paper for a new National Cultural Policy

Abstract

This submission provides recommendations on the Australian Government’s New National Cultural Policy, with a focus on Australia’s videogame industry. 1. Current funding and support caters predominantly to a narrow slice of large-mid-size studios, where Australia’s videogame industry is overwhelmingly made up of small studios, solo creators, and hobbyists. 2. Limited public funding, combined with the structure of private investment available to the sector, means that ambitious and culturally distinctive Australian games are systematically under-supported. 3. The next policy should respond with three specific measures: a baseline of public funding for games, a public co-investment and publishing vehicle that provides expertise as well as capital, and local content requirements for digital distribution platforms operating at scale in Australia.