State embroiled in legal stoush over Pirates of the Caribbean booty

SCREEN Queensland is embroiled in a legal stoush to stop taxpayers from finding out how much it tipped in to lure Disney to the Gold Coast to film Pirates 5.

SCREEN Queensland is embroiled in a legal stoush to stop taxpayers from finding out how much it tipped in to lure Disney to the Gold Coast.

The taxpayer-funded State film and TV body is fighting to keep its dealings with the US entertainment company top secret.

SQ and Disney have spent 14 months fighting a Right To Information request to find out the total amount of money Queensland taxpayers gave Disney to film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on the Gold Coast.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales star Kaya Scodelario greets fans during filming at The Spit. Picture: Richard Gosling

In a decision handed down on August 19, the Office of the Information Commissioner advised the Department of the Premier and Cabinet that a document that details the amount should be made public.

SQ has appealed against the ruling which means the matter will now be referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The appeal means the taxpayer-funded company is set to burn up more public money trying to stop the public learning how much it gave Disney.

Christopher Boyd, from Gold Coast company Glass Media Group, lodged an RTI seeking to find out “the undisclosed total financial incentive amounts granted to the Walt Disney Companies International Production, the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, from the Queensland Government” in July 2015.

The temporary outdoor studio built at Helensvale for filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“We were just looking to gather accurate information in regards to the incentive payment Queensland granted to Disney so we could make a judgment on the claims made by the screen agency and the State Government in relation to the jobs and economic benefits gained, and weigh this up with what it cost the State,” Mr Boyd said.

“Our simple question has turned into a David and Goliath battle.

“We agree with the Information Commissioner that the Premier’s Office and the screen agency should be transparent with the spending of taxpayers’ money, particularly when it is given to multi-million dollar foreign corporations.”

Actors and film crew on the giant outdoor set built at Maudsland for filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Mr Boyd said the company was yet to learn when QCAT would hear the appeal.

“We’re waiting to see what happens from here,” he said.

Formerly the Pacific Film and Television Commission, SQ has been set up as an ASIC registered company with one shareholder — the State of Queensland, represented by the Premier and Minister for the Arts.

Johnny Depp heads out to sea — on Moreton Bay — to film scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

While government-owned corporations must table annual reports in parliament, a spokesman for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said SQ was not required to table annual reports because it fell under the Commonwealth Corporation Act.

“Screen Queensland is not a “Government Owned Corporation” as defined under the relevant regulation,” the spokesman said.

“Although Screen Queensland is not required to prepare annual reports, it must lodge annual directors’ reports and financial statements in accordance with requirements under the Act.”

The statements do not detail what funds SQ provides companies such as Disney or Marvel.