Hobart’s Eastern Shore and the broader Tasmanian screen industry are facing uncertainty following recent staffing cuts at Screen Tasmania, a move that has prompted concern among local filmmakers. The agency, crucial for attracting productions and supporting local talent, has seen its staffing levels reduced by approximately half as part of a wider government restructure.
ABC News (Tasmania) and Pulse Tasmania reported that Screen Tasmania has lost three staff members, leaving it with just 1.5 full-time equivalent positions. These changes are directly linked to the Tasmanian Government’s dissolution of the Department of State Growth, an initiative announced by Premier Jeremy Rockliff earlier this year as part of a public service overhaul.
Under the new “machinery of government” changes, Screen Tasmania is slated to be integrated with Brand Tasmania and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery into a new consolidated entity, “Tourism, Events and Creative Tasmania,” which is expected to be established by December 3, 2026.
The Tasmanian Filmmakers Alliance has voiced significant apprehension, fearing that Screen Tasmania could be diminished to primarily a grant-processing office. Shaun Wilson, a representative for the alliance and a freelance TV director, highlighted a key concern: whether the agency will retain dedicated leadership focused on attracting productions, or if it will become subsumed within a larger bureaucratic structure. Wilson warned that without such dedicated leadership, the flow of productions to the state could diminish.
The alliance underscores the substantial economic contribution of the screen industry to Tasmania. They estimate that Screen Tasmania has helped generate over $100 million in spending within the state from approximately $17 million in state government production investment between 2011 and 2025. As an example, the production “The Survivors” reportedly received about $500,000 in state support, yet injected approximately $8.8 million into the Tasmanian economy, representing an estimated 18:1 return on investment.
In response to the concerns, Arts Minister Roger Jaensch stated that the government is committed to increasing funding for the arts, with a $10 million boost over the next four years allocated across Arts Tasmania and Screen Tasmania. The Minister also affirmed that the government is continuing to work with Screen Tasmania to ensure a strong future, particularly after two staff members accepted voluntary redundancies.
The restructuring at Screen Tasmania is part of a broader government effort to streamline the public service, which includes plans to cut 1,700 public service jobs statewide through natural attrition and voluntary redundancies to address budget challenges. The Department of State Growth, where Screen Tasmania was previously housed, is being dismantled, with 250 positions cut from that department alone. Premier Jeremy Rockliff described these changes as aiming for a more “agile, streamlined” public service.
Local filmmakers and industry professionals on the Eastern Shore and across Tasmania will be closely watching how the new structure impacts the state’s ability to attract and support screen productions, and whether the vital economic and cultural benefits continue to flow. Readers can find more details on this story from ABC News (Tasmania).