AUSFILM CELEBRATES THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN
TO CREATE JOBS FOR AUSTRALIAN FILM & TV BUSINESSES AND CREW
Friday 4rd May 2018 - Ausfilm, the peak industry association that represents film and television
businesses, welcomed the announcement from Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, The Hon. Julie
Bishop MP, the Minister for the Arts, Senator The Hon. Mitch Fifield and Minister for Tourism, Trade and
Investment, The Hon Steve Ciobo MP, that the Government will provide a competitive AUD$140million
Location Incentive Fund delivered over four years from 2019 – 20.
Debra Richards, CEO of Ausfilm, said "This is outstanding news for Australia’s crews, technicians, studios,
VFX and post-production facilities and any business that benefits from large scale international screen
production across Australia (e.g. hotels, taxis, hardware stores, equipment suppliers, restaurants)."
Large-scale international (footloose) productions contributed over $600 million in foreign direct
investment to the Australian economy in FY17. With a certain and clear competitive Location Incentive,
Australia will be able to secure up to another $200 million per annum in additional production value.
Ausfilm’s recent research, in partnership with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, on The Value of Global Footloose
Production* documents the trends and policy measures that shows Australia is not alone, footloose
production has delivered positive economic growth in every jurisdiction studied.
The Australian Government has created a positive policy change to enable Australia to attract more
foreign productions Down Under. Australia can now compete globally with territories like New Zealand,
Atlanta, Canada and the UK who have been highly successful in attracting large-scale productions that
deliver significant direct foreign investment into their country’s economies, employ thousands of screen
production personnel, grow their domestic screen industry and provide investment into technology and
infrastructure.
"This will be a tremendous boost to the Australian businesses in the industry and help to secure those
same jobs for our crews, technicians and creatives. This will also provide work not just in our screen sector
but also across a wide range of sectors in Australia. It will deliver new sources of revenue and innovation. It
also contributes to developing skills and training opportunities of Australia’s crews and technicians in
businesses like sound, music and post-production or visual effects. It is a major development opportunity
for creative Australian screen talent and will ensure our film and television industry grows in size and
expertise like Canada and the UK." Ausfilm’s Richards said.
Richards said "We are extremely grateful for the Government’s ongoing support of the Australian screen
industry. The last three big-budget international productions that have filmed in Australia: Aquaman; Thor:
Ragnarok; Alien:Covenant; made the choice to film here thanks to the Australian Federal Government
topping up the Location Offset to 30%. Without this competitive incentive these films would have gone
elsewhere."
* To download Ausfilm’s Report on The Value of Global Footloose Production click here.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Rachelle Gibson
Director of Marketing & Industry Partnerships, Ausfilm
T: + 61 2 9383 4192 E: [email protected]
ABOUT AUSFILM
Ausfilm connects international filmmakers with Australia’s talent, screen agencies, studio complexes,
locations and production facilities. On behalf of the Australian Government Ausfilm markets Australia’s
Screen Production Incentive Scheme which comprises the Location, PDV (post, digital and visual effects)
and Producer Offsets. Ausfilm is an Australian industry – government partnership. It comprises
Australia’s Federal and State Governments; the major studios; leading post, sound and visual effects
facilities; and production service providers. Ausfilm has offices in Los Angeles and Sydney. For more
information visit www.ausfilm.com. ---
