TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

SENATOR ANNE URQUHART
CHIEF OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE
LABOR SENATOR FOR TASMANIA


GOVERNMENT SENATORS BACK LABOR ON AUSTRALIAN CONTENT
 

Scott Morrison must abandon his destructive plan to cut Australia’s local screen content rules after Coalition senators broke ranks to back Labor’s position.

A Senate report tabled today has unanimously rejected a move by Communications and Arts Minister Paul Fletcher to halve the content obligation for subscription broadcasters like Foxtel.

If Mr Morrison and Mr Fletcher got their way it would mean fewer Australian stories on our screens and fewer jobs for Australian creators.

What kind of government wants to make it harder for Australian creatives after the horror year they’ve just endured?

It’s the latest in a string of attacks on local content following cuts to the ABC, the watering down of free-to-air commercial TV content obligations and their stubborn refusal to regulate streaming services.

The attacks must end.

Even Liberal and National senators now agree.

The report of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021 has sent the Minister packing.

It recommends Schedule 1 of the Bill relating to Australian content obligation for subscription television broadcasters like Foxtel be withdrawn altogether, and the Government hurry up and introduce measures to harmonise the regulatory obligations for Australian content.

Coalition senators have worked Mr Morrison and Mr Fletcher out. They know the photo ops with Hollywood stars don’t cut it.

Labor supports the local jobs Hollywood productions bring – but they mustn’t come at the expense of our local creators and our local stories.

The Government has been reviewing the screen content rules for over four years.

Meanwhile Labor has been calling on the Government to “Make It Australian” and apply Australian content obligations to streaming services like Netflix.

Labor will never be part of the dismantling of the rules that foster Australia’s world class screen sector, which tells Australian stories to us and to the world.

The Committee’s report can be found here.

FRIDAY, 18 JUNE 2021