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West Australian
17 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Screenwest lures film and TV projects to the West with Australia's richest post-production screen incentive
The screen production boom looks set to continue in WA, after the State's peak funding body, Screenwest, announced on Monday the nation's richest incentive of its kind for filmmakers. The Cook Government can't afford for its ballyhooed Malaga film studio to become a white elephant, but attracting productions to the West depends less on facilities — there are already well-established options in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria — and more on the bottom line for studios. In a tacit acknowledgement of this fact, Screenwest has boosted its post-production rebate scheme, which had previously been capped at 10 per cent of qualifying expenditure for productions with budgets over $500,000. From July 1, the rebate, which is funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, will increase to 20 per cent, doubling the payments made to eligible bigger-budget projects for post-production, digital and visual effects carried out in WA. The new rebate is in addition to a 30 per cent post-production Federal Government offset for productions of at least $500,000. Studios spread post-production work around the globe to chase the most attractive incentives, which is why you'll see VicScreen and the South Australian Film Corporation listed in the closing credits of even the biggest Marvel movies. The increased WA incentive should see the Screenwest logo appear more frequently in the credits now, but the funding body's chief executive Rikki Lea Bestall said it's about something more than brand recognition. 'This is . . . squarely aimed at encouraging more post-production projects to Western Australia to do business with our skilled practitioners, from editors to sound designers, VFX artists and animators,' Ms Bestall said. 'WA has a steady pipeline of scripted and documentary productions, which are being filmed on-location and in studios across our state, and that is only going to increase next year when the Perth Film Studios open in Malaga. 'But many of these projects take the next phase of their production elsewhere. We want to make sure our State is being considered as a good place to do business for all facets of screen production.' The WA economy received nearly $65 million worth of screen production expenditure in the past financial year, up from $41.5 million the previous year. Productions brought to WA by existing incentives in the past financial year included Season 2 of The Twelve, starring Sam Neill, and The Surfer, starring Nicolas Cage, which can currently be seen in cinemas.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Proposed bare-knuckle boxing match in Perth sparks debate
The WA Combat Sports Commission says it has received a preliminary application to hold a bare-knuckle fight in Perth, understood to be planned for July. The commission, part of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Creative Industries, has responsibility for the regulation of all so-called combat sports, including boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Chair of the commission, former WA health minister Bob Kucera, told Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC Radio Perth the commission first received an application for bare-knuckle fighting to be approved as a contact sport about six months ago. He said the commission subsequently developed a set of rules fight promoters would have to comply with. "In conjunction with … the combat sports industry, we put together a set of rules which went up to the previous [sports] minister, Minister Templeman, for approval," he said. "They were approved. He said permits had to comply with this particular set of rules. "The rules here are very different to the other [combat] sports because in this particular discipline … they don't have any padding on their hands," he said. "And the only strikes that are allowed are with the hands. The commission has received its first application, which Mr Kucera said would be scrutinised. He said a raft of rules would apply if the application was approved. They included requiring participants to have a minimum of seven years of fighting and 10 professional bouts behind them. Two doctors must be present at the ringside and if a boxer is knocked down, the bout must stop. He said boxers would also have to have serology tests to make sure they had no bloodborne diseases, and must get clearance from a doctor if there was any history of concussion. Mr Kucera said he understood many would regard the idea of bare-knuckle fighting with distaste, but he believed it was better for the government to regulate the practice rather than banning it outright. "In countries where they've said, 'we're going to ban this kind of thing', what happens is it goes underground, and then you have no control at all over it," he said. "If indeed it is approved, it is highly controlled. "And the level of injuries we see in these things are probably less than what you get on the football field, because these people defend themselves." Premier Roger Cook said that while the sport was not his "cup of tea", he agreed it was better to regulate the events. "It's important that the Combat Sports Commission can make sure that we don't drive combat sports underground," Mr Cook said. Numerous members of the community have slammed the idea, including WA president of the Australian Medical Association, Michael Page. "We know that any sport that involves repetitive knocks to the head — and this is quite clearly that — puts people at risk of not only acute concussion and acute brain injury, but also chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is where people, years after they've been involved in these sports, progressively develop personality changes, memory difficulties and dementia." Nationals WA deputy leader Peter Rundle also objected to the WA government approving such an event. "The premier and the government seem to be sanctioning and normalising that violence." Callers to ABC Radio Perth also objected. "This is beyond insane," caller Branko said. "Look at the rates of domestic violence, and I would probably not accept any nonsense about this not having any influence on boys. It does." Caller Sheila said she was "absolutely appalled". "We are rightly spending millions on domestic violence," she said. "We are trying to educate our children that violence is not the right way, and then the government subsidise this bare-knuckle fighting." But caller Alex was a supporter. "If you want to hop in a ring and hurt yourself, why not? We're not a nanny state."
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Speedway stalwart Kevin Theyer wins Mike Stidwell Medal as National Volunteer Week kicks off in Albany
Kevin Theyer, a doyen of Albany Speedway Club, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Mike Stidwell Medal at a presentation to mark the start of National Volunteer Week on Monday night. Theyer joins a long list of outstanding volunteer sports administrators from across the Great Southern recognised by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. A former president of the speedway club, Theyer said he was humbled by the honour. 'I'm living the dream, it's all good, but one person doesn't take home an award in a volunteer situation,' he said. 'The whole club has supported me and supported the vision because having a vision and making it work are two different things.' He was instrumental in securing funding for the Atwell Park track and has volunteered for 30 years in various capacities for the club, Speedway WA and Speedway Australia. Theyer stood down as club president in 2022 but is still on the grants committee, preferring to be a follower, rather than a leader but said the club is in good hands. The achievement of which he is most proud was the development of Atwell Park Speedway. 'It's the best track outside Perth and we should bear in mind that the Perth Motorplex is a government facility,' Theyer said. 'Our Albany track was achieved entirely by volunteers and that's a major achievement.' At no point along his speedway journey did Theyer, a former competitor, get frustrated or overwhelmed. 'It has been a joy the whole time,' he said. 'We always had a great relationship with government and the City of Albany have been so supportive. 'We talk to them about everything we do. 'We are a country town and in country towns the sports clubs hold everything together. 'Mike Stidwell was a big figure in this community and was passionate about his job, so it has been an honour to be awarded the medal in his name.' Other nominees for the Mike Stidwell Medal were Rebecca Gleeson (Albany Little Athletics), Silke Fischer Malpass (Albany Swimming Club), Samantha Stevens (Friends of the Stidwell Bridle Trail), Kelly Holzknecht (Katanning Netball Association), Paul O'Donnell (Albany Mountain Bike Club), Sam Keenan (Denmark-Walpole Football Club), Natalie Jarvis (Albany Roller Derby Club) and Nicola Harris (Great Southern Soccer Association). In the evening's other major presentation, Rosemary Wolter received the 2025 service to sport award in recognition of her dedication and longstanding contribution to netball. She has been the Albany Netball Association's development officer for the last decade but her involvement in the sport in the Great Southern started 25 years ago. 'We moved to Denmark 25 years ago and I vowed I wasn't going to get involved because I had been heavily involved in sport where I lived previously,' she said. 'But within 12 months I was back in it again,' she said. As well as netball, she was also a driving force behind the development of eight tennis courts in Denmark. The fifth recipient of the award, she said she was overwhelmed and thanked her association's executive committee for 'making my role a pleasure'. State volunteering minister Hannah Beazley thanked all the hardworking volunteers. 'Volunteers are the heart and soul of our regional communities, their contributions are truly inspiring,' she said. Monday night's event was held at the Albany Entertainment Centre.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Geraldton-based football club Rovers pleads to council to write off $50,000 debt for cancelled project
A Geraldton-based football club is urging the local council to write off nearly $50,000 worth of outstanding debt for a project to update their changerooms that never got off the ground. Rovers Football Club told the City of Greater Geraldton agenda forum on Tuesday that they were not in a position to pay off the debt immediately. Back in 2022, Rovers was approved for a grant application and self-supporting loan to upgrade the changerooms and canteen at its home ground of Greenough Oval. According to the city, Rovers received its first payment of $48,717 in December 2023, but due to the project changing from the original approved design, delays occurred. The agenda forum document for May stated the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries in November informed the club their funding had been withdrawn, and no other money was paid. Two months later, Rovers wrote to the city advising they were unable to complete the project, and was unable to repay the first payment having already spent the funds on design and engineering. The club requested the amount be waived, and to negotiate a 'reasonable settlement'. However, the council's executive recommendation was to not approve the debt write off, and to negotiate a repayment schedule of the full amount plus four per cent interest over seven years. Speaking at the agenda forum, Rovers vice president Clive Edwards said the club was hoping to defer the payment until next year when they would be in a better financial position. He said there were members of the committee who changed the plans without the approval of the rest of the board, causing the costs to increase. Mr Edwards said those responsible were no longer on the board, with the club on an upward trajectory financially, having acquired new sponsors. He said the club had managed to pay back the majority owed to creditors, but was mindful there were only four home games left for Rovers in 2025, saying the club would struggle to pay back the finances immediately. According to Mr Edwards, his partner was a 'book keeper by trade' and had taken on the treasurer role to help stabilise the club going forward. Cr Kim Parker asked if the decision to waive the debt would open other groups to do the same. Chief executive Ross McKim said setting precedence was something councils needed to consider, adding it was tricky. Rovers has been a club for more than a century, producing a number of AFL talents including Liam Ryan and Judd McVee. The club has had recent on-field success, winning three league premierships in four years between 2019 and 2022. Council will debate and vote on the matter at the council meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
Perth Now
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
New $5.5m sporting hub in Perth's north officially complete
A $5.5 million community and sporting pavilion at Heath Park in Eglinton is now complete, offering new facilities for local sports and community groups in Perth's far north. The new pavilion is equipped with changerooms, first aid facilities, activity rooms, an umpire's room, accessible toilets and showers, along with kitchens, kiosks, and storage. Given that Eglinton is located approximately 45km from Perth's CBD, north of Alkimos, Wanneroo deputy mayor James Rowe said this development marks a significant investment for Perth's northern corridor. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'Heath Park is already proving to be a vibrant hub for sports enthusiasts and community members in our growing suburb of Eglinton,' Mr Rowe said. 'This facility ensures local sporting activities can run smoothly, supporting players, club personnel, volunteers and spectators.' The pavilion is also set to provide a space to host meetings, workshops, and celebrations for the local area. The development was funded through contributions of $2.87m from the City of Wanneroo, $710,000 from the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries, and $1.97m from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. Among the new pavilion's features are changerooms, activity rooms and an umpire's room. Credit: Supplied Butler MLA Lorna Clarke said the Eglinton sporting community was eager to take full advantage of their new home at Heath Park. 'As a mum in Eglinton, I know that having a dedicated precinct like Heath Park Pavilion is so important for our growing local sporting teams and will no doubt support more families to participate in sport and kids to get active and be part of our community,' Ms Clarke said. Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti stated that sporting precincts were crucial for community life, particularly in our suburbs. The new $5.5 million facility. Credit: Supplied 'This new precinct will help ensure more people in Alkimos, Eglinton and Butler are able to participate and engage in community sport, as well as use the space for gatherings, workshops and celebrations,' Ms Saffioti said. The new facility is set to be the new home of teams like Alkimos Tigers Rugby League Club and Alkimos Football Club. Floodlights around the pavilion and surrounding ovals are also expected to be installed shortly, making the space more accessible for clubs by allowing for use in the evening and at night.
