Push to bring more blockbusters down under

Film companies and public television broadcasters want further incentives to bring projects to Australia and produce more local content.

Film companies and public television broadcasters want further incentives to bring projects to Oz. (AAP)

Some of the world's largest entertainment companies are warning Australia is uncompetitive when it comes to luring film studios Down Under.

The Australian government offers a location offset of 16.5 per cent for film and television projects filmed here with a more than $15 million spend.

But the likes of Village Roadshow argue that a 30 per cent rate would be better.

Already productions can apply for "top up" grants as was the case with Aquaman, Thor: Ragnarok, Alien: Covenant and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, among others.

"Thoseprojectsbroughtcloseto$1 billionindirectinvestmentintoAustralianbusinessesand employees," it said in its submission.

They have clearly demonstrated both thebenefitsoflargescaleinternational film production inAustraliaand that with a 30 per cent rate Australiacancompetefor "footloose" internationalproductions.

Warner Bros agrees and says the increased rate would make Australia competitive with other countries around the world.

"Given your creative and technical crews are some of the best in the world, your geography diverse, and your visual effects and animation firms are market leaders, the country should be attracting more foreign productions," the company said.

There is also a mutually exclusive producer offset incentive - a 40 per cent rebate on the spend of qualifying Australian films.

The ABC and SBS want the 20 per cent rebate for television doubled to match it.

If it was, ABC director of television David Anderson expects there would be more Australian content on our screens.

"There would be more money available for independent producers to be able to expand," he told a hearing in Canberra on Friday.

"I think you'd see a new variety of content that would come through."

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield last month announced a review into Australian and children's screen content.

Department officials confirmed to the committee both offsets were being looked at as part of the review and they were aware of calls for increases.