A loophole in a government agency allowed this film to receive thousands of dollars in public funding.
An Australian film produced by a creationist organisation has received over $90,000 of taxpayer funding, The Australian reports.
Darwin: The Voyage That Shook the World aims to “influence the mainstream” to “think again”, according to the producers Creationist Ministries International.
“We trust that for years to come, as Christians use the DVD to show to their acquaintances, very large numbers of people will rethink and re-examine their various philosophies, and that many will come to know the truth that sets them free in Jesus Christ,” the organisation’s website explains.
Related content: We never thought we’d hear the Catholic Church admit to this.
CMI is a not-for-profit Christian organisation that promotes the teaching of the Book of Genesis, Guardian Australia reports.
The group question the theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin — preferring that man and the earth were created by God.
Screen Australia, a government agency supporting local film, is legally obliged to offer rebates to producers of all Australian feature films, regardless of its content.
The 2009 documentary did not receive direct funding but was reportedly eligible for a “producers rebate” — totalling $90,000.
Related content: She was raised by two women. Then she found god. Now she’s taking a stance against gay marriage.
The full funding amount was awarded this week after the conclusion of a legal battle that commenced in 2010.
The film grossed $116,436 at the Australian box office.
Social media reactions to the film:
Do you have a news tip? Email us at news@mamamia.com.au.
[post_snippet id=324408]
Top Comments
$90k is nothing, religion is enjoying $500 MILLION dollars in tax breaks in Australia each year. Creationism is no more wacky than more mainstream Christian sects like Catholicism or Islam, Judaism or Scientology.
This wouldn't be out of place in the bible belt of the USA
"Screen Australia, a government agency supporting local film, is legally obliged to offer rebates to producers of all Australian feature films, regardless of its content."
Surely this paragraph makes it a non-headline. They didn't look at it and go "this is an awesome idea, let's fund this!" There is an agency set up to help fund Australian feature films, they do not get to judge the content or quality (pending legality of content, I'm sure, let's not jump to extremes). If they got to pick and choose who recieved funding based on their or anyone else's opinions, that would create all sorts of impartiality issues.
I think this comment pretty much sums it up. They cannot pick and choose.
I'm an atheist and obviously will not agree with the film, however it is not about yours or my beliefs, it's about funding. I would much rather the film received financial support than I would with a government censor deciding which content or topics are deemed worthy of publication or support.