This is why the Gold Coast could lose a third major film looking to film on our shores

THE Federal Government has cost the Gold Coast $300 million worth of film production. Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said the State stood to lose its third major production in as many years without an increase to the Federal location offset.

THE Federal Government has cost the Gold Coast $300 million worth of film production.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira said the State stood to lose its third major production in as many years without an increase to the Federal location offset.

“Blockbuster reboot Tomb Raider was looking to film in Queensland but ended up shooting in South Africa, who offer a 30 per cent location offset, along with the The Fast and Furious spin off which also went to another foreign territory,” she said.

“Australia now has the lowest location incentive in the world.”

Mrs Vieira said New Zealand and the UK offered 25 per cent and Atlanta, Georgia in the US offered 20 to 30 per cent.

“The UK and New Zealand also have much lower fringe taxes than we do as well,” she said.

She said a lack of certainty around the criteria used to decide whether or not a production qualified for the increased 30 per cent location offset in Australia was another deterrent.

“What you have to do is try to get to Mitch (Fifield) or Malcolm (Turnbull) or Julie Bishop or Steve (Ciobo) or the Treasurer (Scott Morrison),” Mrs Vieira said.

“You have to track them down and get direct access and that’s not exactly easy to start with.

“There’s no process — you don’t know what information they’re looking for.”

GOLD COAST HAS 48 HOURS TO SAVE FILM INDUSTRY

Progress on Aquaman movie set at Hastings Point. Picture Mike Batterham

Queensland has established a significant pipeline of back-to-back international production including: Aquaman, Thor: Ragnarok, Kong: Skull Island, Pacific Rim Uprising, Jungle, The Shallows, At Last, Guardians of the Tomb and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

However, Mrs Vieira said there were no major projects locked in after the Commonwealth Games.

“There’s nothing else on the horizon. They keep saying Aquaman was great but that has come and gone,” she said.

The Premier and Minister for Trade Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mrs Vieira met with all the major studios on a recent trade mission to the US.

The studios made it very clear that unless the federal location offset is increased, Queensland risks having no more large-scale productions.

“What countries like New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and of course the U.S. realise is that by offering higher incentives for offshore productions, they help their local industry by creating jobs, retaining and upskilling crew, and building infrastructure,” Mrs Vieira said.

“They also generate post production, digital visual effects and animation work.”

THE NEXT MOVIE BLOCKBUSTERS COMING TO THE GOLD COAST

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison isn’t budging on calls to increase the tax offset to bring more films to the Gold Coast. Pictures: Jack Tran

Federal Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo said the Federal Government was already providing a 16.5 per cent offset for films to come to Australia.

“If the Premier really wants to top up that offset then she should top it up,” he said.

“It’s a bit rich frankly for a Premier who has no money on the table to be criticising the one level of Government that does have money on the table.

“If the Premier wants to attract this film here, there is nothing to stop her making up the difference. How much is she tipping in? I don’t know but that’s a relevant question. We’re actually tipping in money, we’re putting in 16.5 per cent.

“Let me tell you who the beneficiary is of films coming to Queensland — it’s the Queensland State Government. They are the ones who benefit from payroll tax, Queensland State Government is one who benefits from licensing fees.”

WHAT IS NEEDED TO SAVE GOLD COAST FILM INDUSTRY

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the lack of support from the Federal Government was a “slap in the face” to the people of the Gold Coast.

““Let me say to the Prime Minister, there are hundreds of jobs at risk based on the Gold Coast and I want the PM to come to the party,” she said.

“We are putting out fair share of money on the table and I am waiting for the (Federal Government) to put forward their fair share.

“I have been raising this issue for weeks and they know how important this is. We are talking about a billion-dollar industry in this state.

“We need to be tax competitive because we are up against New Zealand, the UK and others who are competitive.”