The State Government this morning announced $5.2 million funding over three years to support the SAFC and ABC partnership, which Premier Malinauskas said supported creative industries that are “the lifeblood of SA”.

Australian stories will be under the spotlight through the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund, which includes a Matched Development Fund specifically supporting homegrown SA programs for the ABC as part of the deal.

Malinauskas said the partnership will help put South Australian stories front and centre, along with driving local employment with projections of 460 new production jobs to be created across numerous screen productions.

Work under the agreement is kicking off immediately, with season two of SA-made children’s series Beep and Mort from Adelaide’s Windmill Pictures getting underway. The original series was a hit with audiences and critics when it premiered last year.

The series was created, produced and post-produced entirely in South Australia, with season two already in pre-production at the SAFC’s Glenside studios.

Beep and Mort is the first studio program for children made in the state in more than a decade.

The program is expected to inject more than $9.2 million into the South Australian economy and create 125 South Australian jobs across cast, crew and creatives combined over its two seasons.

“For more than fifty years, the South Australian Film Corporation has been telling our stories – putting South Australians in the spotlight, and ensuring our lives, culture and experiences are reflected to us at home, around the nation and overseas,” Malinauskas said.

“Beyond the cultural benefits, this $5.2 million investment in our screen sector will deliver more than 400 production jobs and even more flow-on jobs right here in South Australia.”

SAFC chief executive officer Kate Croser welcomed the support saying the partnership would make SA a “home” for ABC-scripted production.

“South Australia’s screen industry is poised to deliver the highest quality productions for ABC viewers, from our production companies, creatives and heads of department, to actors and crews, our world-class facilities, phenomenal locations and businesses and screen service suppliers across the state,” she said.

“The recent success of original ABC series from South Australia, Closer Productions’ Aftertaste, Epic Films and KOJO Studios’ First Day and now Windmill Theatre’s Beep and Mort, as well as SA filmed children’s series MaveriX, have paved the way for this consistent stream of production, and demonstrate the capacity of creativity to drive cultural and economic outcomes.”