NEW YORK: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has met with senior members of the team behind the iconic Sesame Street program to encourage them to film in Queensland for its milestone 50th season next year.
Ms Palaszczuk said Sesame Street was broadcast to more than 150 countries, including Australia on ABC TV, and a Queensland filming would showcase the State as well as deliver on the program’s aim to help kids be smarter, stronger and kinder.
“I’m a Sesame Street kid. The program was developed to help early childhood development, and it was impressive to understand the strong research basis for the program and its content,” she said.
“Sesame Street has recently focussed on issues of autism, learning through play and bullying, which are key priorities of our Government’s education agenda.”
Accompanied by Screen Queensland Chief Executive Tracey Vieira, the Premier said the Government would work with the Sesame Workshop on the possibility of Queensland filming, through the offer of incentives.
“In its 50th year, it would be great if the iconic Sesame Street could film at some of our iconic locations like the Reef, the outback and Dinosaur Way, and our rainforests,” she said.
The Premier said it would not be the first time Queensland has called on a Sesame Street character to help — the Count was used in the Government’s advertising campaign to get Queenslanders to complete last year’s Federal Census
Attached is picture of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Screen Queensland Chief Executive Tracey Vieira and Sesame Street producer Kim Wright with Elmo at their meeting in New York.