Create NSW will now offer a 10 per cent tax incentive for post, digital and visual effects (PDV), which can be combined with the federal PDV offset, bringing the state's offering in line with South Australia and Queensland.
The screen sector is hoping the appointment of Paul Fletcher as Minister for Communications and the Arts will signal an end to government policy paralysis towards the industry.
Industry guilds and the free-to-air broadcasters alike have expressed dismay over the Federal Government's move late last week to extend the Post, Digital and Visual (PDV) and Location Offsets to online platforms, arguing the government has missed an opportunity to introduce further policies that could benefit the local industry.
The Federal Government has confirmed that Australian shows commissioned by Netflix, Stan and other streaming services will immediately qualify for the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) and Location Offsets.
Following the South Australian Film Corporation’s lead, Screen Queensland has introduced a 10 per cent uncapped post, digital and visual effects (PDV) rebate.
If the government were to adopt the recent House of Reps inquiry’s recommendations to level each of the offsets to 30 per cent and decouple the Location and PDV Offsets, the total value that offset-supported production adds to the Australian economy every year would grow by almost 35 per cent to $1.6 billion by 2021-22.
Rising Sun Pictures’ RSP Education in partnership with the University of South Australia plans to expand its education and training programs to meet the growing global demand for world-class VFX graduates.
The Department of Communications and the Arts, Screen Australia and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have launched a consultation paper inviting industry input towards the Australian and Children’s Screen Content Review.