Live Performance Australia is pushing for tax relief for local theatre producers to help stimulate sector investment and jobs.

Calling on the Albanese Government to introduce a scheme similar to the Theatre Tax Relief (TTR) initiative in the UK, LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson says that tax incentives to offset pre-production costs would bring more performances to Australia and boost employment opportunities on stage and off.

According to the LPA, the UK’s TTR, launched in 2014 and revised in the Tory government’s Autumn 2022 budget, now offers producers tax relief of between 45 and 50 percent for theatre production costs.

“It’s exactly the kind of initiative we need to help power up Australia’s theatre industry and to attract private investment in shows for Australian and international audiences,” says Richardson.

Modelling undertaken by LPA has found that a tax rebate of between 25 and 40 percent can be cost neutral when set against the additional economic activity generated by the incentive.

“The Federal Government already provides $123 million a year of tax offsets for the film and digital games industries, which includes support for international productions made in Australia,” says Richardson. “The screen incentives have delivered real benefit for...