Wednesday, 18 June 2025

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (09:48): My members statement is for the non-profit organisation in my community of Southern Metro known as Women in Film and Television. Last Saturday, not far from my office, they held an event at the St Kilda town hall. Shifting the Gaze was held to promote some of the best female-led stories from right across Australia. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in a question-and-answer format with the filmmakers afterwards. It is events like these that make Victoria, and in particular my community of Southern Metro, the film capital of Australia, which is the place to be in culture. Whether it is attracting Liam Neeson for blockbuster films or producing some of the world’s best actors and actresses, we have it all. Last year the creative industries in Victoria, which includes the film industry, contributed a combined $41.4 billion to the state’s economy. The film and television industry specifically contributed around $1.3 billion of its own, employing more than 10,000 Victorians. But art is more than just money; the arts are essential to Australian life and culture. I pay tribute to Women in Film and Television for their key role in promoting women’s contributions in our creative life. I encourage everyone in my community who is interested to visit their website, and if they are free, to jump on their networking and professional development opportunities for women in the sector.