Win! Producer offset for feature film is retained

11 April, 2021

The Australian Writers’ Guild celebrates Communications Minister Paul Fletcher’s announcement that the feature film producer offset will be retained at 40%. Last September, the Morrison Government indicated that it would be reduced to 30% and harmonised with the TV offset, which will increase from 20%. This is a win for the industry and for our writer-producer members.

President Shane Brennan and former President Jan Sardi AO lobbied effectively in Canberra last month as part of the Make It Australian group, alongside representatives from SPA, MEAA and ADG.

In February this year, four of the top five films at the Australian Box Office were Australian. The Dry, Penguin Bloom, High Ground and Long Story Short have all performed well. The Dry has brought in more than $20 million to date and is now the 15th highest-grossing Australian film, despite COVID and a changing media landscape.

'A reduction in the producer offset would have destroyed our film industry and made features like The Dry impossible to make,’ said Jan Sardi AO, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Shine. He also adapted hit films The Notebook and Mao’s Last Dancer. ‘Recent box office figures show that Australians want to see Australian stories on the big screen.'

President Shane Brennan states: ‘This is the first concrete sign from the Morrison Government that it’s ready to back Australian storytellers. At last, we have confirmation from Minister Fletcher that he’s serious about offering incentives for investment in Australian-originated stories, rather than just offshore productions. We extend our gratitude.'

AWG also acknowledges the extension of the $50 million Temporary Interruption Fund which is designed to assist local productions in obtaining finance during these uncertain economic times.

The screen sector remains hopeful that this announcement augurs well for the upcoming Green Paper review and its consideration of streaming service regulation. AWG is calling for streamers to invest 20% of their locally sourced revenue in producing new Australian content.

AWG members: tune in to Zoom tomorrow night (Tuesday) to hear directly from Shane and Jan about AWG’s ongoing campaign.

WHEN: Tuesday 13 April 2021, 7pm AEST / 6.30pm ACST / 5pm AWST
WHERE: Online via Zoom
RSVP: Essential for all attendees. RSVP here. 

Attendees will receive a link to the panel one hour before the start time. 

Please note this webinar is open to current AWG members only.