The Greens want a $100 million investment fund established to support Australian video game development, accusing the Turnbull government of a woeful lack of support for the ailing local industry.

The party will announce its plan for a Games Investment and Enterprise Fund as part of its byelection campaign for the seat of Batman in Melbourne, home to the majority of Australia's 1000 game makers.

Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John is also calling for creative industry tax offsets to be extended to game developers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“Video games are culturally, artistically and economically significant," spokesman Jordon Steele-John said on Sunday. “Worth more than $3 billion annually in Australia and over $100 billion worldwide, the Australian Greens see video games as a key component in rebooting our digital future.”

Australian development has struggled because of high labour costs. Generous government subsidies in countries such as Canada have prompted the major studios to abandon their Australian operations.