The Australian government announced on Tuesday its intention to introduce legislation this week that will mandate streaming services to invest in Australian content. This move, supported by Arts minister Tony Burke and communications minister Anika Wells, aims to support acting jobs and ensure the production of Australian stories. The legislation will apply to drama, documentaries, arts, and educational programs, affecting platforms with over one million subscribers, including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.
Mandatory Investment Details
Streaming platforms with over one million subscribers will be required to allocate at least 10% of their local expenditure, or 7.5% of their revenue, to Australian content. This applies to various content types, including drama, documentaries, arts, and educational programs.
Government Rationale
Arts minister Tony Burke stated that while free-to-air and pay television have Australian content requirements, no such guarantee existed for streaming services. He indicated that this obligation aims to ensure the continued production of Australian stories. Communications minister Anika Wells and Burke cited the protection of acting jobs as a reason for the move.
Legislative History and Delays
According to the Australian Broadcast Corporation, the new content requirements were originally intended for implementation by July of the previous year. Delays occurred due to concerns regarding their interaction with a free trade agreement with the United States. The government cited difficulties in negotiations with the US during its election period. Following President Trump's election, concerns arose about potential retaliatory tariffs from the US administration, which previously put the plans on hold. The regulations are now proceeding.
Industry Response
The Australian Writers Guild (AWG) and Screen Producers Australia (SPA) have welcomed the announcement. Streaming services, however, have not yet issued comments. In 2022, several streamers, including Stan, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Paramount+, released a "Streaming for Australia" report highlighting their cultural and economic contributions.