The NSW Government is committed to making the State the most attractive destination in Australia for screen production. In late 2024, Screen NSW launched the NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy 2025 – 2027. This was followed by the enactment of a new Screen and Digital Games Industries Act 2025 and release of an updated NSW Local Government Filming Protocol. These policy settings support the NSW Government’s aim to reduce red tape, provide the highest possible level of co-operation with filmmakers and encourage screen production, in particular location filming, to attract investors, create jobs and contribute to economic growth and creative output.

The NSW share of Australian screen production businesses and workers is significant. NSW is home to half of Australia’s screen production businesses, with NSW production, post-production, exhibition and digital games businesses employing over 13,000 people in 2021-22 and adding almost $1.1 billion to the state economy. In that period, wages and salaries in the NSW screen industry were around $1.24 billion, with businesses generating $4.88 billion in income.

Sydney boasts state-of-the-art studio facilities and is home to a wealth of creative and technical talent. Locations across the State offer a diverse range of readily accessible environments, highly attractive to filmmakers both local and international.

NSW Government support for screen production

The Screen and Digital Games Industries Act 2025 contains principles to ensure that government processes are screen friendly and responsive to the needs of screen producers. Ministers, Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers, Film Contact Officers and other relevant decision makers are expected to:

• meet filming requests with a cooperative and constructive attitude;

• support access to locations and facilities for filming activities, and only restrict or withhold access where there are evidenced and clearly demonstrated reasons, which may include public amenity, safety, security or other operational requirements;

• grant requests for agency services wherever possible;

• process applications for access or services promptly, and where possible, aligned with timeframes specified for local government authorities;

• advise the filmmaker as early as possible when there is no alternative to refusing an application for access or services and offer alternative arrangements for sites, if possible; and

• ensure fees transparently reflect cost-recovery only and are kept at a minimum and that charges for agency services are based on avoidable cost only, as defined in the NSW Government user charges policy.

Agencies should also ensure:

• they maintain a Film Contact Officer position, with the name and contact details of the person holding that position published on the agency’s website, with any change to the contact updated online and provided to Screen NSW in a timely manner; and

• the agency has filming policies, fee structures, application forms and contact details available on its website, including a fee appeal process.

Screen NSW continues to support agencies, and their Film Contact Officers, on screen production queries. For reference, the Local Government Filming Protocol and other resources can be accessed at www.screen.nsw.gov.au.

Chris Minns MP

Premier