General News
30 October, 2020
Bringing Hollywood To Cairns
The Labor Party will establish a significant film industry presence in the Cairns region and create jobs with a $6.8 million investment in a new film studio if re-elected.
he FNQ Sound Stage will create jobs by attracting film productions to the region while also providing a training ground for the Queensland filmmakers of the future.
Subject to successful completion of a business case, including possible investment by commercial partners, the $6.8 million investment could include construction of a purpose-built sound stage, office and teaching space, lights, camera and sound equipment, rooftop and solar battery systems, and additional dedicated set-building space.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said creating a film-making precinct in Cairns would grow jobs as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery and build on successes in attracting film production to other parts of the state. “We’ve created more than 10,000 jobs in Queensland by investing more than $80 million in our Production Attraction Strategy, including filming and production of films like Thor: Ragnarok, Aquaman and the new Baz Luhrmann Elvis biopic,” the Premier said.
Labor Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt, a long-time passionate advocate for the FNQ Screen Production Strategic Plan he launched with the Premier in 2018, said the $6.8 million investment would put the Cairns region in prime position to take advantage of burgeoning global demand for production capacity.
“Queensland has always been an attractive destination for film and TV productions and now we are also viewed as a safe destination in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Pitt said.
