Tag Archives: filmindustry

Qld Gov’t to waste $53M attracting temporary film industry activity

After the Queensland Government was willing to spend $8 million to attract a one-night State of Origin game to Townsville last week, it’s unsurprising it will be willing to spend $53 million attracting film productions providing only temporary economic activity … Continue reading

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ABC radio story on Hollywood blockbusters crowding out local productions featuring David Williamson and me

When an ABC journalist contacted me a couple of weeks ago about excessive federal and state government subsidies to international film productions such as Thor: Love and Thunder, I mentioned it wasn’t just hard-headed economists like me complaining. Cultural luminaries, … Continue reading

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‘Hollywood Australia’ supported by generous tax credits and other government subsidies

The Australian is reporting ‘Hollywood Australia’ a $1.5bn movie blockbuster extravaganza, covering the surge in international film productions such as Thor: Love and Thunder filming in Australia. This is partly related to Australia’s success in managing COVID and also to … Continue reading

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Hollywood subsidies by Qld Gov’t kept hidden – Qld Right-To-Info process a huge joke

I’ve long argued that the current approach to assisting the film industry, focused on luring international film productions, is wasteful, doesn’t achieve any important public policy goals, and is politically motivated, so drab politicians can benefit from some Hollywood glamour. … Continue reading

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Hollywood grabbing excessive film industry support

The Brisbane Times, in its article Film industry calls for more local support after Hollywood incentive,  is reporting there is some dissatisfaction with the newly announced $400 million of federal government incentives to attract international film and TV productions: Australian … Continue reading

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Picking winners – industry policy podcast chat with Craig Lawrence

With the Queensland Government willing to invest $200 million in Virgin Australia to keep its HQ in Brisbane, I thought it would be timely to record a podcast interview on investment attraction and industry policy more broadly. On Tuesday, I … Continue reading

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Money on the Screen – film industry episode of Economics Explained podcast

The latest episode of my Economics Explained podcast, Money on the Screen, explores the economics of the film industry. What affects the return on investment in films? Should governments subsidise film productions as they do in Australia? In the episode, … Continue reading

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My comments in Saturday’s Courier-Mail on payroll tax concessions—e.g. for BrewDog & Disney

With the possible exception of President Trump, the most interesting American politician at the moment is the millennial, freshman member of the House from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). She is one of the main players is what The Economist … Continue reading

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Professionals’ share of employment much lower in Qld than in southern states

Regular reader Mike Willis made an excellent comment regarding my previous post breaking down the difference between Queensland’s unemployment rate and the rate for the rest of Australia, with Mike observing: Am I correct in guessing that the relative deficit … Continue reading

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Fact check on PM’s comparison of GC film industry to tourism in economic contribution terms

On Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a bold claim regarding the film industry on the Gold Coast in a radio interview on Gold FM regarding the tax breaks used to lure the Godzilla vs Kong film and Disney Reef … Continue reading

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