Scott Morrison kills off bid to secure Dora the Explorer film to shoot on Gold Coast

FEDERAL Treasurer Scott Morrison killed off Queensland’s bid to secure the Dora the Explorer live action film shoot after ruling out any increase in the movie location offset incentive. VOTE IN OUR POLL

FEDERAL Treasurer Scott Morrison killed off Queensland’s bid to secure the Dora the Explorer live action film shoot after ruling out any increase in the movie location offset incentive.

Mr Morrison wrote to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today to advise her the Federal Government will not lift the location offset from 16.5 to 30 per cent to help get the project over the line.

The state government has been lobbying the Commonwealth to grant the upcoming

live-action Dora the Explorer movie production an increased tax break to entice

it to film in Queensland.

Ms Palaszczuk had called on Mr Morrison to lift the incentive for Dora the Explorer to secure its production and associated benefits in Queensland.

Mr Morrison has written to the Premier today to inform her of the decision:

“Recognising the importance of a thriving Australian screen industry, the Australian Government invests in a range of mechanisms, including tax rebates, direct funding and regulatory measures to promote sustainable film production in Australia,” the letter says.

“Over $300 million is provided each year to support the screen industry through the Australian Screen Production Incentive.

“Since 2013, the Australian Government has committed $110 million in top up grants for eight large international productions, including most recently $22 million to secure the filming of the blockbuster feature film Aquaman in Australia on the Gold Coast.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison. Picture AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

“The Australian Government is aware of Paramount Pictures’ request for additional incentives to secure filming in Queensland of the Dora the Explorer movie. Such requests are considered

against alternative demands on the Commonwealth Budget and the opportunities for such direct assistance to be provided at a state level.

“I note that late last year, you committed to provide $20 million to attract more blockbuster films to Queensland. In this instance, particularly given your request for a resolution by

16 March 2018, your government is well placed to provide the necessary top-up grant from this funding to secure this investment in Queensland, without the need to call on the Commonwealth on this occasion.”

Mr Morrison’s response came as Ms Palaszczuk defended her push to establish a permanent film industry in the state after Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington labelled it a “vanity project”.

Ms Frecklington downplayed the effect the industry has on the local economy, saying the existing 16.5 per cent tax offset should be incentive enough.

“This is a vanity project by Annastacia Palaszczuk. We need to secure long-term

jobs for Queensland, not a short-term sugar-hit just for the premier,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk today rejected that assessment, suggesting Ms Frecklington go

to the Gold Coast and talk to some of the thousands of people employed on film

sets and in related industries such as construction and catering.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The State Government has been lobbying the Commonwealth to grant the upcoming

live-action Dora the Explorer movie production an increased tax break to entice

it to film in Queensland.

Screen industry stakeholders fear Mr Morrison’s refusal to increase the location offset will stall the local film industry.

Screen Queensland chief executive Tracey Vieira said if Paramount now decides not to

film in Australia as expected, no other movies are planned that could take its place.

“I just did a whole lot of meetings in the US and one of the major studios said

to me they had a project which would have worked beautifully here, but they

couldn’t even consider Australia because they couldn’t guarantee they’d get that

uplift,” she said.

“It was about uncertainty for them.”