I’m a working, single mother of two teenage boys. I’m also Queensland’s Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy, the Minister for Small Business and the state member for Algester.
Just to add a layer of complexity to my already hectic life, my youngest son (who I love very much) has declared himself a vegan.
What’s a working mother who loves a T-bone to do? Our conversation was a short one. “Sweetie, YouTube.” Like any Millennial worth his Minecraft, my son clicked his way into the world of FoodTube – that’s food on YouTube. On Sunday night, you’ll find him with an iPad propped against the kitchen counter tapping through a YouTube recipe tutorial.
He’s not alone. YouTube counts 14 million unique Australian viewers. Worldwide, a billion people watch 6 billion hours of YouTube every month. Just as we’re watching videos, there are small armies of YouTube creators. Every minute 100 hours of video are uploaded to the video behemoth.
As a minister in the #StartupState, I recognise that YouTube is important to our lives, valuable to our innovation-driven economy and indispensable for those moments when you need to make an egg-free omelette.
Some of Australia’s top YouTube talent is based in Queensland: My Cupcake Addiction, Charli’s Craft Kitchen and Halfbrick Studios (makers of Fruit Ninja). These channels have more than 3.2million subscribers combined.
In November last year, myself and Queensland’s Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, announced a new $900,000 Queensland Creative Entrepreneurship Program with YouTube to support Queensland’s impressive, inspiring, inventive YouTube creators. We’re the only state government with a YouTube partnership.
We’ve developed a unique program, working with QUT and Griffith universities to help local creators across Queensland stand out on the world’s most popular video-sharing platform. The plan is to partner local YouTube creators with the channel’s top talent as well as Screen Queensland mentors.
Last Friday, at the Powerhouse in Brisbane, the Palaszczuk Government brought these plans to life. We hosted a YouTube creator day: an interactive workshop and a chance for videographers from all over Queensland to connect. Our goal is to provide creative YouTubers with funding, production resources and expert support to develop high-quality, tap-worthy digital content to reach new global audiences.
I love the idea of working mothers on the other side of the world sending their sons to YouTube to watch a dairy-free kitchen how-to made in Queensland.