Australian content quotas remain in question as SPA pushes the government to regulate streaming platforms.
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) is continuing its call for the Australian federal government to deliver on its pledge to impose local content quotas on global streaming platforms, despite the lapse of a previously stated deadline of 30 June.
In a show of strategic lobbying, SPA held its annual Screen Stories dinner in Canberra this week, attended by several key politicians, including Arts Minister Tony Burke MP, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland MP, Senator Perin Davey, Josh Wilson MP, Graham Perrett MP, and Susan Templeman MP.
During the event, Matthew Deaner, CEO of SPA, praised the government’s commitment to its National Cultural Policy but urged swift implementation of promised regulatory measures.
“To achieve this, digital streaming platforms need to be spending some percentage of their earnings on local Australian content, just like they are doing in so many other countries worldwide,”
As part of his remarks, Deaner highlighted a key concern: while Australian screen productions are receiving growing recognition internationally, the industry is facing potential challenges from the surge of foreign productions.
“One of the night’s key themes is the ongoing push for regulatory action to ensure a balanced screen ecosystem,”
“While Australia is globally renowned for its world-class crew, technical expertise, and breathtaking locations, there are growing concerns that local productions are at risk of being overshadowed by international work.”
Deaner also reflected on the delicate position the local screen industry finds itself in, urging a focus on Australian stories.
“There’s little doubt that our local screen industry is at a crossroads. We celebrate the success of global productions filming here, but we must never lose sight of the vital need to prioritise our local stories.
Australian stories reflect who we are as a nation and must be safeguarded through smart regulation. It’s not just about economic benefit, it’s about our cultural identity,” he stressed.
In addition to key government officials, the dinner was attended by numerous industry leaders, including representatives from Screen Australia, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), the Australian Directors Guild (ADG), the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG), the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Screen Queensland, and Screen Territory.
Also present were several prominent figures from the creative sector, including actors Bryan Brown (Boy Swallows Universe) and Paula Garcia (Bump, The Twelve), as well as comedian and filmmaker Dan Ilic. Production designers Fiona Donovan (A Place to Call Home, Frayed) and Deborah Riley (3 Body Problem, Game of Thrones) joined producers from leading companies such as WildBear Entertainment, Hoodlum Entertainment, SLR Productions, Roadshow Films, and Fremantle Australia.
SPA’s campaign for regulatory change is driven by concerns that, without local content quotas, Australia’s screen industry risks losing its distinct identity, as global streaming platforms dominate the landscape with international productions.
The push for government action reflects broader efforts to ensure the long-term viability of Australian stories within an increasingly competitive global market.
SOURCE – C21
