Funding stoush: The Federal Governments calls on Queensland to disclose its movie incentives

The Queensland Government is refusing a federal request to disclose how much it would spend on production incentives in a funding stoush that could cost the state a blockbuster movie.

Queensland could lose a blockbuster film over a government funding stoush after the Federal Government demanded the state reveal how much it would spend on production incentives.

Federal Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has sent a letter to the Queensland Government seeking the public release of the funding figures, as it prepares to invest millions of dollars into the national location incentive program.

The state was unwilling to disclose the individual deals, arguing it would prejudice future negotiations by making public what the state was willing to pay to lure productions to Queensland.

But it is understood a major studio that was in final negotiations to film a movie in the state got wind of the stoush and has subsequently got cold feet about signing the deal.

A clip from the first episode of NBC's Young Rock, which was secured for Queensland through the Location Incentive Program as well as state government funding. Picture: Instagram

While the Federal Government publicly discloses its funding, the Queensland Government instead releases a total annual budget for production funding and has never previously released specific deals.

“As far as we know, no other state or territory releases specific amounts contributed to secure productions because this prejudices negotiations,” a Queensland Government spokesperson said.

Mr Fletcher, however, argued that there was no reason the states shouldn’t follow suit in disclosing their funding.

He said the success of the location incentive, which has enticed the majority of big-budget productions to Queensland, would benefit from “greater transparency about the support that eligible productions are able to receive in Australia through a combination of Commonwealth and state funding.”

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The Morrison Government stands ready to invest up to $16.07 million in Origins under our Location Incentive program,” Mr Fletcher said in a statement on Friday.

“All we are asking, in the interests of transparency, is for the Queensland Government to disclose publicly how much they are prepared to commit to the production. Other states have had no issue with this policy.”

Mr Fletcher said 28 productions have been announced under the Morrison Government’s Location Incentive to date, generating more than 17,800 jobs for Australian cast and crew.

Half of those productions have been distributed to Queensland, which has provided undisclosed additional funding through the production attraction strategy.

A screen insider told The Courier-Mail the movie set to film in the state, which was under negotiation to film on the Gold Coast and elsewhere in Queensland, was set to offer up to 500 jobs.

Screen Queensland is understood to still be in negotiations to secure the production while they continue to push back on the Federal Government’s demands.