Hugh Jackman to PM: it’s important that blockbusters come to Australia
Australian actor Hugh Jackman has spoken to Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the importance of attracting international blockbuster productions to Australian shores.
When asked about the likelihood of a bigger tax break to entice more international productions to Australia, the PM told Encore: “Hugh’s certainly spoken to me about the importance of this, for getting these big movies, these real blockbusters here in Australia. It is something that Minister Crean is working his way through as he deals with our cultural policy.”
The tax break – called the location offset – is currently set at 16.5% of how much a production spends in Australia. A rise of 30% has been suggested by the industry, and backed by the MEAA with a petition, to bring more productions here.
Gillard was speaking at Sydney’s Fox Studios with Jackman and director James Mangold, ahead of The Wolverine beginning production next week.
Minister Crean is currently conducting the National Cultural Policy and the location offset is included in that review, with the results due to be released before the end of the year, a spokesperson for the minister told Encore.
Jackman, who is also one of the film’s producers, was instrumental in bringing The Wolverine to Sydney, as announced in April, and acquiring a one-off $12.8m grant from the government which is an equivalent of an offset increase to 30%.
The film will result in $80m worth of investment, and approximately 2,000 jobs.
However, the move has been seen as controversial and short term in benefiting the film industry as profits will go to the American studio. The last Wolverine film, also filmed in Australia, made $373m at the box office according to worldwide tracking website Box Office Mojo.
Gillard continued: “We decided it was a good investment. The NSW Government played its part and I think for our industry – Hugh said to me very consistently as we have walked around, these people with their very special skill sets, they’ve got to work and if we’re not able to provide them with something that holds them in Australia, then they have got to go where they have to go to get work.”
Jackman told the press conference: “We start filming in a week and I am so happy to be home, to be shooting a movie of this magnitude here at home is one of the great privileges I have had in my career. Aussies punch above our weight. Not only as actors but as crews, I think in the last 20 years five cinematographers have won Oscars.”
Sorry Hugh but spending $12.8 million of taxpayers money in a one-off grant is just another manufacturing subsidy for Hollywood. The Federal government gets no recoupment position in the movie and no profit (though getting profit out of Hollywood can be illusory). The benefits are completely short term and I suspect Mr Jackman’s substantial fee is not subject to Australian tax and fed through a third party low tax country. The Federal and NSW governments are fools to buy into Hollywood subsidy shopping. Better to spend the money on the CSIRO (the guys who created WiFi) and scientific research. Government’s are full of clever country rhetoric but resort to this level of subsidy and the MEAA signs petitions in support. Sorry Julia and Simon but you’re short term fools.
User ID not verified.