Australian Film Industry Warns Trump Tariffsโค Could Devastateโค Jobs
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – A โคproposed 100% tariff on foreign โขfilms by former U.S. President Donald Trump is sparking alarm within the Australian film โindustry, โwith leaders warning theโฃ policy could cripple production and cost thousands of jobs. Concerns are mounting ahead of Prime Ministerโ Anthony Albanese’s scheduled meeting with Trump โat the โฃWhiteโฃ House on October 20.
The potentialโ tariffs, initially floated earlier this year, threaten to undermineโข Australia‘s growingโ reputation as a prime location for internationalโข film and television production, particularly on the Gold Coast.โ Queensland Film Industry CEO Kristin Tate urged Prime Minister Albanese to directly addressโ theโค issueโฃ with Trump, stating, โ”To haveโฃ a 100โ per cent tariff would be devastating to โขour film industry.”
Australia has โbecome a sought-after destination for โคfilmmakersโ due to its skilled workforce, competitive production costs, andโข diverse locations.Tate emphasized โขthat producers and directors โchoose locations likeโ the gold Coast based on value and โคcapability, not simply goodwill. “Youโ don’t take advantage of friends and go, ‘We’re still good mates’. Its not how anyone should operate,” she added.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli โechoed these concerns, expressing โhe was “very โconcerned” about the potential impact. “Australia’s been great friends with the โฃUS forโค a long period of time โand there’sโค been a reflection on thatโข with other tariffs,” โคCrisafulli said, addingโ that anyโข government โdecision hindering the โcompetitiveness of the โAustralian โขfilm industry โขis “troubling.”
Theโข Australian โฃfilm industry contributes significantly to the national economy, and Queensland has emerged as a major hub for โboth domestic and international productions. The proposed tariffs โฃraise fears that projects โคwill be diverted toโ other countries, leading to job losses and a decline in investment.