Screen Tasmania has recently been impacted by significant cuts, reportedly leaving just 1.8 full-time equivalent staff members on board, prompting questions about the future of the organisation and its potential impact.
Reporting arrived around the same time the Tasmanian Government pledged an additional $10 million to support the creative industries, including $1 million for Screen Tasmania.
But those in the industry have voiced concerns, with Shaun Wilson, founding member of the Tasmanian Filmmaking Alliance, recently telling ABC, ‘There’s no point putting gas in the tank if you’re going to take the wheels off.’
Screen Tasmania funding changes – quick links
The impact of reduced screen support in Tasmania
In a new interview with IF Magazine, Wilson further questioned the changes happening at Screen Tasmania, and the resulting impact of reductions in overall support.
‘We’ve obviously been seeing people leave the industry because there’s only so long you can hang around an industry where there’s not enough work,’ Wilson said.
‘I’ve seen people have to move interstate where there’s more work, so we’re very keen to see some bigger productions happen soon, so we can start rebuilding.’
Wilson told IF he has met with the Tasmania’s new Arts Minister, Roger Jaensch, to discuss these concerns, and while it was a ‘positive meeting’ that inspired some hope for the future of the industry, there remains concerns for him about the Tasmanian Government’s restructure of its support for creative industries.
It is understood Screen Tasmania staff will be integrated into an updated team also comprising specialists in the tourism, events and creative industries departments.
‘The minister is a strong supporter of the screen industry, and he does want to see a stronger screen industry,’ Wilson told IF.
‘Broadly speaking, I’d say he’s in agreement in that he wants industry involvement and that he wants a strong Screen Tasmania, so a lot of it’s going to, as it always does, come down to the details.’
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In a further statement, Jaensch described the local screen industry as being highly valuable for the state, and confirmed the Tasmanian Government will continue to support endeavours in the region.
‘The screen sector is a highly valued part of Tasmania’s creative industries,’ Jaensch reportedly said.
‘Our government is committed to supporting a strong, sustainable local screen sector so our practitioners and businesses can compete on a national and global stage.’
TaFA pledges to continue screen industry advocacy
As Wilson shared with media, TaFA is committed to providing frequent updates on the state of the local industry, and to continuing its advocacy work on behalf of the industry and its membership.
‘In August, TaFA wrote to the Arts Minister outlining concerns for the screen sector with the ongoing changes at Screen Tasmania, resulting in an initial meeting this week,’ the organisation confirmed in a public member update.
‘The Minister is eager to rebuild Screen Tasmania and see the industry thrive, and TaFA will continue working with him to ensure this happens.’
On 11 September, the organisation will also host a TaFA industry meeting to provide further updates, where members are encouraged to share their thoughts and learn more about recent developments.
Also on ScreenHub: Tasmania’s local games industry is quietly thriving
Level Up 2026, a games showcase elevating the work of local Tasmanian gamemakers, recently spoke to the great work currently being developed within the state. Created by Screen Tasmania, and inspired directly by Adelaide’s South Australian Game Exhibition, it was intended to unearth a quiet truth: the state’s local games industry is thriving in secret.
Across the April weekend of this year’s show, a reported 2800 attendees visited to see locally-made games like ROOMSPEED, Nullstar: Solus, I Feel Fine and Leonardo’s Moon Ship, as well as to learn more about the local Australian games industry as a whole.
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