PRIME MINISTER
EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP AT THE
AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS PRESENTATION, SYDNEY,
NOVEMBER 1993
1 am delighted to be here tonight with friends in film and television to
celebrate another year of spectacular achievement for the industry.
Another year of success and confidence.
As an Australian I'm very proud that we have a world class film and televlsion
Industry which produces world class material. And with It an event such as
the AFI awards to recognise it.
I know that over recent times, and particularly in the light of the nominations
for Best Film this year, we've had a bit of a debate about what an Australian
film looks like.
About whether you have to have a gum tree rather than a fir tree in it. Or
sun, sand and surf. And a little snow or in Vincent's case, a lot of snow.
About whether its got to be packed with people who are recognisably
Australian, and, If so, who is. About whether its still OK to do period pieces
I know that this is more than a matter of taste or fashion and I welcome the
debate. In fact, as you've probably noticed, I welcome most debates about our
cultural identity, and none more -so than in this industry which is so crucial to
our cultural development.
And that I think is the important point.
This Industry Is crucial to our cultural development.
We need it and we can't do without It.
Other countries can, of course, produce films, indeed excellent films, for
Australians to see. And to learn from.
But that is a very different matter.
The simple fact is that no other country can produce Australian films. Or
Australian television programs.
Nor can they acquire the ability to do so. Its not something they can be
educated to or grow into. Its certainly not something they can buy or we can
sell. No-one else can give Australians ( or indeed the rest of the world) the
perspectives that our filmmakers do.
That is why we have to make sure that Australians don't lose creative control
over the things that help us and future generations to understand what it
means to be Australian.
Why we have to make sure that the revolution in communications technology
serves our cultural needs, rather than sit back and allow the globalisation of
the telecommunications market to set our cultural agenda for us.
Giobalisation can of course work in our favour too. It can create opportunities
for our fil-ms tobe seen more widely.
And as films such as Strictly Ballroom and the Heartbreak Kid, among others,
show, we can go on making, dare I say it, distinctly Australian films, which the
global market will pick up. Films which are not hung up on categorization or
ideological purity.
Australians must retain the capacity to show ourselves to the world and to tell
the world our stories the ones that Ae want to tell. The ones that we should
tell. But this does not preclude our filmmakers from exploring other parts of the
world. We don't have a monopoly on Insight into the human condition. There
are lots of things out there for us to learn. And to tell others about.
Nor should it preclude us from attracting other filmmakers to Australia to
make their films, or from pursuing new co-operative arrangements,
particularly within our region.
When I was in China earlier this year, I was fortunate to be able to visit the
Beijing Film Studio, and meet Chen Kalge. Filmmakers such as Chen are at
the front of liberal change in China. it would be good to see our industry
working cooperatively with them.
We need such things to keep the industry flourishing. So we can provide
Australians and many others with what they clearly want to see.
While this Government will always be ready to assist in the process, It cannot
nor should not be responsible for maintaining the critical mass the industry
needs to survive.
But I can assure you that we will continue to be a strong supporter and keep
looking for new and better ways to help.
I congratulate the AFI and everyone Involved for the great show tonight. I
congratulate the ABC for televising it. Most of all, I congratulate the industry
for its successes over the last year and I look forward eagerly to the triumphs
that are sure to come.
Thank you.