"Trump's Full Tariffs on Movies Could Rock Australia’s Film Industry"

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The federal government says it will stand up for the Australian film industry, in response to‘s 100 per cent tariffs on film productions made outside the US.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States,” the US president posted on Truth Social on Sunday.

“Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, are being devastated.”

Australia is a highly favored site for international film productions, often referred to as “Hollywood Down Under.” Recent major productions include The Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Thor: Ragnarok.

A graphic depicting the cost and takings of films made in Australia

Source: SBS News

The federal government’s location offset scheme offers a 30 per cent rebate for big budget film projects shot in Australia, with additional post-production rebates and state governments offering further sweeteners.

But the imposition of tariffs could mean these incentives are no longer attractive enough for productions aimed at the massive US market.

Trump’s move will send shockwaves through the industry globally, according to industry peak body Screen Producers Australia (SPA).

“At this stage, it is unclear what this announcement means in practice or how it will be applied and implemented”, said SPA chief executive Matthew Deaner.

“There are many unknowns for our industry, but until we know more, there’s no doubt it will send shockwaves worldwide.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said.

But he did not specifically mention to reporters the film industry tariffs Mr Trump announced.

A man in a suit standing in front of an Australian flag and dark blue curtain.

Arts Minister Tony Burke said the Australian government would fight to protect the film industry. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said he was monitoring the situation closely.

“Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry,” Mr Burke said in a statement.

Foreign productions are big business for the local screen industry, according to the latest Screen Australia figures.

Just under half of the $1.7 billion spent on screen production in Australia during 2023/24 was on international productions, with $767 million spent making foreign film and television.

It’s not yet clear how the tariffs might be imposed but they could also affect the export of Australian content to the US market, potentially making tickets more expensive for films such as George Miller’s Mad Max series.

In Mr Trump’s announcement on social media, he described film incentives as a threat to the US by foreign nations.

“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.

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