Written by new-contact on Mar 13, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

Australia delays Location Offset rise and launches new $20m filming incentive

Australia has delayed a rise in its Location Offset and has instead launched a new filming incentive worth AUD20 million. Specific details are scarce but the new fund is designed to boost international interest in Australia as a filming location.

“This is as a precursor to an increase in the Location Offset, should the Australian dollar remain high,” said Australia’s Arts Minister Simon Crean: “This new incentive fund is in addition to our investment in securing The Wolverine (left), and the current negotiations with Disney to secure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo.”

Ausfilm and Australia’s Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance both praised the launch of the new fund, but reiterated the need to increase the country’s Location Offset in the long-term. Crean gave no indication of a timescale for future improvements.

“We welcome an additional AUD20 million in funds,” commented the Arts Alliance’s Mal Tulloch, “but the Location Offset needs to be increased permanently before we lose any more productions – and all the jobs and training opportunities that go with them.”

The Location Offset needs to be increased permanently before we lose any more productions – and all the jobs and training opportunities that go with them.

Mal Tulloch, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

Disney is considering filming its big-budget reimagining of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Australia but is looking for a one-off payment similar to the AUD13 million awarded to The Wolverine. The Wachowski siblings’ new science-fiction epic Jupiter Ascending decided against an Australia shoot, opting for the UK’s more competitive filming tax credit.