/Media Releases 15.02.23

OLSBERG REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF AUSTRALIA’S SCREEN PRODUCTION INCENTIVES

Ausfilm welcomes the results of Olsberg SPI’s Study on the Impact of Film and Television Production Incentives in Australia, demonstrating the Australian Government’s suite of production incentives contributed a total of A$16.5 billion in economic output over the four years to FY2021/22, and generated significant employment and training opportunities for Australians across the entire screen ecosystem.

In particular, the economic results for the Location Offset and Location Incentive are impressive, showing that for every net dollar invested in international projects, A$5.89 is created in value for the Australian economy, and 60% of below-the-line expenditure is spent with businesses that are not dedicated to the screen industry, such as construction, security, travel, transport, real estate, education, and hospitality, spreading those benefits far and wide.

Moreover, the vendor map shows that production expenditure reaches beyond the border of where a production was shot, sharing benefits with individuals and businesses across the country.

The Report also confirms the strength of the PDV sector which in 21/22 had expenditure 93% above the five-year average, a testament to the talent and reputation of the sector and a direct result of the Australian Government’s permanent 30% PDV Offset.

“The suite of Australian Screen Production Incentives are generating significant dividends for our economy and opportunities for the screen sector to scale up. International productions are a crucial part of Australia’s screen ecosystem, and the Olsberg Report demonstrates the incredible value they add to the Australian sector, complementing the types of productions being made locally and supporting significant jobs and training opportunities.”

Kate Marks, Ausfilm CEO
L-R: Susan Lee (MPA), Jennifer Cornwell (Unit Production Manager), Lynne Benzie (Village Roadshow Studios), Nick Herd (Ausfilm), Mary Ann Hughes (The Walt Disney Company), Paul Muller (ANZSA), Catherine McDonnell (Entertainment Lawyer), Kate Marks (Ausfilm)

Australia is known for its world-class crews, locations, infrastructure, and PDV capabilities; however, the Report confirms that without the combination of the Location Offset and Location Incentive, none of the international projects since 2018 would have come to Australia. Without the incentives, Australia would not be competitive against other locations to attract these productions.

Highlighted in the Report is the opportunity Australia has to continue building on this current momentum. Marks added, “A permanent 30% Location Offset would ensure a consistent pipeline of both physical production and PDV into the future and cement Australia’s position as a leader in the global screen industry.”

The Olsberg SPI Study on the Impact of Film and Television Production Incentives in Australia was released by the Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA) and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) on February 13, 2022.

The original media release can be found here, and the full report can be viewed here.

Feature Image: (L-R) Jonathan Olsberg, Schuyler Weiss, Paul Muller, Jennifer Cornwell, Luke Hetherington, Kate Marks, Jon Kuyper