Queensland's screen industry is facing a significant confidence crisis after the state government slashed incentives funding for Screen Queensland by at least $13 million per annum over the next two years — a cut that producers and local governments warn could drive film and television productions out of the Sunshine State.
Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek announced $50 million in incentives funding for the state-owned agency over the coming two-year period. But in real terms, that figure represents a substantial reduction: Screen Queensland had received $42 million in the 2025–26 state budget alone, and $38 million per annum in each of the two budgets before that.
Industry Warns of Productions Fleeing Queensland
Screen Producers Australia chief executive Matthew Deaner said the announcement confirmed fears that had been building since the state budget was handed down. He warned the cut amounted to the Queensland government "significantly reducing the incentives that support the attraction of screen production, business and economic activity in the state."
Deaner said producers had established their businesses in Queensland specifically because of the stability and strength of state investment — and that foundation now appeared to be shifting.
"Our members indicate that New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, as well as international production hubs, are now being considered for their business and production locations," he said.
He described the funding reduction as a "relatively modest saving" for government that could end up costing the state "many times that amount in small-business and economic activity." According to state government figures, Screen Queensland generated more than $541 million in direct Queensland production expenditure in the 2025–26 financial year and supported more than 6,600 jobs.
The cuts raise broader concerns about the long-term health of an entertainment industry that increasingly relies on stable government investment signals to attract large-scale projects.
Gold Coast Seeks Urgent Clarification
The announcement has also rattled the City of Gold Coast, which has built a strong reputation as a destination for major international productions. In recent years the city hosted filming for Hollywood blockbusters including Elvis, Aquaman and Thor: Ragnarok.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has written to Minister Langbroek seeking urgent clarification on what the funding reduction means in practice — and what other state support, if any, will be made available to the screen sector in 2026–27 and beyond.
"We have written … seeking clarification on this funding and what other funding is coming from the state for the screen industry in 2026–27 and in the next financial year," a spokesperson for the mayor said.
Screen Queensland Reviews Its Incentive Offerings
Screen Queensland chief executive Jacqui Feeney acknowledged the agency is now revising its incentive structure in response to what she described as "rapid growth" in Queensland's screen industry, accompanied by "record-breaking demand for funding" in recent years.
Feeney noted that the agency's revised incentives would continue to be offered alongside the federal government's 30 per cent offsets and rebates, which she said would help maintain Queensland's competitiveness as a production destination.
Minister Sidesteps Questions on Industry Impact
Minister Langbroek declined to directly address questions about how the funding reduction might affect industry confidence, or why the cuts had been made. Instead, he framed the announcement in political terms, saying the Crisafulli government was "delivering multi-year funding certainty to the screen industry after Labor left the sector with no guarantees."
The response did little to reassure producers, with Screen Producers Australia maintaining that the numbers tell a clear story — and that without a reversal or meaningful supplementary support, Queensland risks losing its standing as one of Australia's premier screen production hubs at a critical moment for the sector.
