Australias New South Wales Reverses Plans to Slash State Production, PDV Subsidies

The state government of Australia’s New South Wales has reversed some of its recently announced plans to cut subsidy to the film and TV industries.

NSW Minister for the Arts, John Graham said on Tuesday that three important screen industry programs – the post digital and visual effects (PDV), the digital games development rebate program and the ‘Made in NSW Fund’ – will continue on existing terms for eligible projects.

His statement followed some two weeks of lobbying by screen industry workers, guilds and companies which argued that the government’s proposed budget cuts would damage a large and growing industry. New South Wales, which includes Sydney, is the biggest hub for the film, TV and post-production sectors in Australia.

The funding cuts, worth about A$60 million ($40 million), were made by the previous government prior to the state election in March, and that they were included in this month’s budget. Nevertheless, Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said the cuts “came completely out of the blue” and he warned of dire consequences.

“You would no longer be able to call Sydney a film or TV center for the nation if this cut goes ahead,” Deaner told local media “We are seen as a partner of choice for production, but if we are sending out bad signals to the market and whether or not funding is secured from state governments, that is creating huge chaos.”

Erin Madeley, of the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance, another guild, said: “The State Government has listened to the concerns of screen workers about these cuts and their impact on the industry, and it has acted quickly to guarantee continued funding.”

“The Made in NSW program and the PDV Rebate are both essential parts of the state’s screen architecture as incentives for productions to be made in the state and we are delighted that they will be restored.”

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