Australian states call for games development tax breaks

09.05.2006
The IT Minister in the Australian state of Queensland, Chris Cummins, has made an impassioned plea for tax concessions to ramp up the state's computer games industry.

Cummins said such tax breaks would encourage further moves into games development within Queensland and proposed an investment system similar to film development.

He said only the film industry gets the support it needs locally from government and tax breaks encouraging the developing of the local film industry should be extended to include the electronic games industry.

"We want to see our games developers less reliant on foreign investment and publishers and see more games funded and developed right here in Queensland," Cummins said.

"If the federal government is fair .... about encouraging home-grown, high-skill IT jobs, then tax breaks for games developers is a step in the right direction.

"The electronic games industry is worth A$40 billion (US$31 billion) worldwide and is experiencing huge growth. We need to do all we can to help local companies secure their slice of the international pie."